Dia 1

1
Russia-Netherlands Economic ForumAmsterdam, 7-8
November 2005B.J.F.M. Zonneveld, ING Bank,
Vice-Chairman NRCH
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RF-NL Trade Relations

• The Netherlands belong to the top 5 in terms of
  FDI in Russia and in terms of trade
• In 2004, the total trade with Russia was 3,18 Bln
  Euro, an improvement of 15 compared with 2003
• However the overall growth with all Russian
  partners was 24 Holland has to improve !!!
  (lagging behind).
• Russia provides enough potential, the question
  is how to maintain and improve the Dutch
  position?

3
Cooperation

• The central lead in Russian economy is setting
  cooperation activities and coordination between
  both Governments Joint Governmental Committee
  (JC) is essential, the bridge of cooperation.
• This JC is essential and restating of this
  importance from the side of the Dutch State side
  is needed (Dutch market oriented economy no
  central lead). We really do need this!
• During the visit of the Russian President, last
  week, the JC has been underlined and will be
  extended
• More support for entrepreneurs, sub-committees
  for each industrial sector
• Special attention should be given to SMEs in
  order to increase volume of Dutch Russian trade
  relations
• Question is how to support these typical
  entrepreneurs on the booming Russian market with
  all risks involved
• We believe that in cooperation with the Dutch
  Government we can support companies in order to
  promote small business initiatives by Dutch
  companies in Russia

4
Partners

• More than before Dutch and Russian entities are
  interconnected
• Our relationship with the RF Embassy in The
  Hague, the RF Trade Representation in Amsterdam,
  INTRINA and the RF CoC in Brussels has been
  internally strengthened and interlinked with CoC
  St.Petersburg, CoC Moscow and the Russian-Dutch
  Business Council in St.Petersburg
• Debate with the Dutch Government has been
  intensified and leads to Russia as one of the key
  traders with Holland (India and Turkey as well),
  so Governmental priorities have been set.
• During next three months a new Dutch trade policy
  in consultation with the Dutch entrepreneurs
  societies will be drafted
• The visit of President Putin provided for us an
  important momentum, underlining an active role by
  the Dutch Government in the trade relations with
  Russia.
• New suggested entities, interlinking
  entrepreneurs to the joint committee, are not
  needed, its a matter of improving present
  structures, at least on the Dutch side!

5
Events and face

• Each year at least one Joint Committee session
  should be held, the next one will be in Moscow
  June 2006
• The Entrepreneurs Platform, supporting the JC,
  will be integrated. The NRCH will cooperate with
  VNO-NCW (Confederation of NL Industry and
  Employers) in advising the Dutch state.
• Russian Economic Forum each year, trade missions
  to Russian regions to be activated, major events
  around energy to be set and information exchange
  by ICT facilities.
• The Dutch face to be improved in Russia, not
  only in St. Petersburg and Moscow, but optional
  in Samara, Ekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, etc.
• Concrete and straight forward actions should be
  the theme for the future of Dutch-Russian
  business!! Thank you for your attention!

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Contact

• NRCH Secretary
• Mr. Michael Roerade
• ? 31 70 3441563
• ? mroerade_at_nchnl.nl