Oranje Handelsmissiefonds (Orange Trade Mission Fund) for entrepreneurial Netherlands

Every year, the fund supports ten businesses from the Dutch medium-sized business sector to venture into foreign markets.

On 24 April 2013, ING, KLM and the Dutch SME Association are launching the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds (Orange Trade Mission Fund). ING and its partners hope that this fund will inspire and encourage Dutch businesses to venture into foreign markets.

On 30 April 2013, Prince Willem-Alexander will succeed his mother and become King of the Netherlands. To mark his succession to the throne, ING has taken the initiative to set up the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds, together with KLM and the Dutch SME Association, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For a period of five years, the fund will offer ten medium-sized Dutch businesses the opportunity to explore foreign markets.

Importance of global business

The establishment of the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds to mark the succession to the throne ties in with the Netherlands as an exporting country. The Netherlands has traditionally been an open trading nation, with exports accounting for approximately 30% of GDP. Indeed, in recent years, exports have been one of the few growth engines of the Dutch economy.

Trade missions offer businesses a unique opportunity to explore new markets. The Royal couple plays an important role in global trade promotion for Dutch businesses, as recently demonstrated by the trade mission to Brazil in November 2012.

Oranje Handelsmissie package

Every year, the Oranje Handelsmissiefonds offers ten selected business an Oranje Handelsmissie package in the form of a symbolic cheque to the value of EUR 10,000. In return, the businesses receive fully supported participation in existing or personalised trade missions or participation at international trade fairs. ING, KLM, the Dutch SME Association and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs all contribute to this package.

ING, for example, will be contributing its financial knowledge, as well as its expertise of the sector and the intended export country. ING will also introduce the businesses to relevant players in Europe and the rest of the world. Together with the knowledge and expertise from the network of the Dutch SME Association and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Agentschap NL (part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs), the businesses will be actively supported in exploring global markets. KLM will of course organise the flights to the countries in question via its comprehensive network.

The ten businesses will be followed and their knowledge, experiences and stories shared on the website at www.oranjehandelsmissiefonds.nl, as an example to other Dutch businesses.

Selection and award

Following a pre-selection process, a selection committee, made up of the CEO of ING and President and CEO of KLM, the Chair of the Dutch SME Association and the Director General of Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will decide which ten businesses will be awarded the Trade Mission package. The first ten packages will be presented in the autumn of 2013.

Official registration will open in August, but interested parties can pre-register by visiting www.oranjehandelsmissiefonds.nl.