International business pays

Doing international business is part of the Dutch DNA. Many companies have already spread their wings, but there are still many opportunities to explore…

All they need is a nudge in the right direction to get started. Which is precisely what the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds (Orange Trading Mission Fund) sets out to do. The fund is now offering entrepreneurs a chance to win one of the 10 Oranje Handelsmissie packages that are awarded every year. The campaign was launched on 27 August in Amsterdam. And where else but Schiphol, the gateway to international business.

If you weren’t an entrepreneur already, you would almost want to become one. That’s how infectious the meeting was with its buzzing spirit of enterprise.

ING, KLM and MKB Nederland (Dutch SME Association), together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are the initiators of the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds that was specifically set up to stimulate and inspire entrepreneurs to do international business. During the gathering, the CEOs of ING and KLM, as well as the chairman of MKB-Nederland and the director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shed their light on the abundant opportunities awaiting entrepreneurs in foreign markets.

Several entrepreneurs who have already earned their international spurs also told about their experiences. In short: plenty of big guns were rolled out to encourage entrepreneurs to tap into foreign markets. Every year 10 candidates can qualify for a trade mission package including a tailor-made trade mission with a symbolic value of € 10,000.*

Better results

The message is clear: international business pays. Jan Hommen, CEO of ING and one of the speakers, pointed to the findings of a survey that the ING Economic Bureau conducted among almost 400 entrepreneurs. One of the most important outcomes was that internationally active SMEs generate more profit than their colleagues that have a purely Dutch orientation. However, they do need support from the government, particularly in terms of corporate match-making. Because finding business partners, financing and a lack of time, alongside the pitfalls of foreign laws and regulations, were mentioned as the main impediments to venturing abroad.

Working and learning together is crucial. Which is precisely the reason why the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds was created. By sharing their networks and expertise, companies – and the Netherlands as a whole – can continue to progress and thrive.

ING, as one of the initiators, is keen to alert its customers to the opportunities that lie abroad and to inspire them to explore foreign markets. ING has all the necessary knowledge under one roof to help entrepreneurs take the plunge with confidence.

And KLM, too, boasts a worldwide network as well as excellent contacts with embassies and business communities around the globe. By pooling their formidable strengths and expertise, these two initiators can act as a source of massive support and encouragement for Dutch entrepreneurs in foreign countries.

Growth engine

Speaking to the audience Hommen observed: “For years – and even more so in the recent economic crisis – the export sector has been the most important growth engine of the Dutch economy. Every euro of Dutch exports yields 66 cents for the Dutch economy, divided among the exporters themselves and their suppliers. Three quarters of Dutch exports still go to Europe, but exports to Asia and other emerging markets are growing rapidly and this is likely to continue in the coming years.”

He pointed explicitly to the role of the SME sector. “SMEs are responsible for almost two thirds of Dutch exports. That is much more than in the countries around us, while SMEs account for about a third of our exports. And though SMEs are more focused on Europe than large corporates, no less than 93% of the exporters to BRIC countries such as China and India are SMEs.”

Interested companies can register with the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds until 15 October. The first ten companies selected to make use of the available knowledge and network will be announced in November.

*What does the trade mission package comprise:
ING delivers the financial knowledge and expertise about the sector and the export country.
KLM helps the entrepreneur to make key contacts on location. And also flies the trading mission to its destination.
MKB-Nederland helps to explore international markets.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers support via its expertise and contacts, including the entrepreneurship support agency Agentschap NL.

For more information about the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds, see the article published earlier on ING.com: Oranje Handelsmissiefonds (Orange Trade Mission Fund) for entrepreneurial Netherlands

Want to enter? Then look at how the Fund can support your plans at: www.oranjehandelsmissiefonds.nl

Any questions? Visit info@oranjehandelsmissiefonds.nl