Download HollANd Food VAlley - The Netherlands Embassy and Consulates

Holland Food Valley
The Agro-Food Cluster in the Netherlands
Why invest in Holland?
Because Holland offers…
• a strategic location in Europe
• a competitive fiscal climate
• a superior logistics and technology infrastructure
• a conducive innovation environment
• an international business environment
• a solid workforce
• an attractive quality of life
Key figures Agro-Food sector
in the Netherlands
• Turnover 63 billion euro (>10% GDP)
• 21% of total Dutch export
• 22% added value
• 6th-ranked food industry in the EU
•600,000 jobs in agro-food sector
• 140,000 jobs in food industry
• 4 Dutch food companies in world Top 30
•8 of the 25 largest companies are food companies
• 95% SME
• World-class R&D infrastructure
Introduction
Holland’s location and logistics systems, its
open innovation approach, and its wellorganized public-private partnerships offer a
favorable environment for companies looking
for business expansion or acceleration.
Add to that a mindset of creativity,
collaboration and reliability, excellent financial
conditions, and a top technology sector in
Agro-Food, and Holland is able to guarantee
the most important drivers in ‘innovation
location’ choices for foreign investors.
Agro-Food is important
business in the Netherlands…
With more than 10% of the GDP and more than 20% of the
industrial export, Agro-Food is one of the biggest economical
sectors in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has qualified
Agro-Food as a ‘Top sector’. Top sectors get a priority focus from
all public and private stakeholders (business-governmentknowledge) with joint strategic planning aimed at ambitious
societal, sustainable and economical goals.
Source: Nationale Beeldbank
The Agro-Food chain in the Netherlands
Seed and Breeding Technology
Agriculture
Processing
Transport
Feedstock, Ingredients
Manufacturing
Marketing, Branding
Retail
Consumers
All segments of the Agro-Food
chain in the Netherlands are at
a world-class level…
The whole Agro-Food chain, from seed to consumer, has a
very strong presence in the Netherlands. In each segment
there are internationally operating world-class companies.
All segments of the chain are highly interactive. A company
active in one specific segment can work together with world-­
class companies in other parts of the chain. Companies invest
above average in R&D, leveraging the excellent knowledge
infrastructure for their innovation portfolio.
The knowledge infrastructure in the Netherlands is one of
the best in the world. Not only with Wageningen University
and Research Center, but also through Top Institute
Food & Nutrition, the public-private innovation program
Food & Nutrition Delta, TNO (Netherlands Organization for
Applied Scientific Research) and NIZO food research. And last
but not least, the excellent cross disciplinary interactions and
cooperation with eight medical university centers, universities
and the Netherlands Genomics Initiative which has several
dedicated Genomic Centers all over the country.
The government strongly supports all Agro-Food related
activities in public-private partnerships, Innovation Programs,
dedicated support organizations such as Food Valley and
through investment in education in its broadest sense.
The Netherlands features one of the most highly-educated,
flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Dutch
professionals are also among the most multilingual in the
world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies
across any industry, serving customers throughout the
continent. What’s more, Dutch law offers employers a range
of contract possibilities to flexibly procure employees.
Source:Unilever
The Netherlands is the
Agro-Food Portal to Europe…
The Netherlands, long Europe’s trading crossroads, is an
obvious choice to locate a pan- European operation – whether
it’s a European headquarters, a shared services center,
a customer care center, a distribution and logistics operation,
or an R&D facility. The country’s pro-business environment
creates a gateway to Europe that helps international
companies succeed throughout the continent. An international
outlook and openness to foreign investment is firmly
ingrained in the Dutch culture, and this has yielded a wealth
of world-class business partners who know how to deal with
global business challenges in today’s economy.
The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest and most
important seaport, while Schiphol Airport is ranked as
Europe’s best airport for both cargo and passenger
transport. The Netherlands is also classified as one of the
most ‘wired’ countries in the world; a dynamic force in
electronic commerce, communications and outsourcing.
Greenport Venlo is the third logistic junction in the
Netherlands, after the port of Rotterdam and Schiphol
airport. It owes its growing significance primarily to its
strategic position close to the key sales markets of Germany
and Central Europe, serving more than 45 million consumers.
Greenport Venlo is not only an organization or an area in
Europe, it’s also a unique collaboration between the private
and public sectors, science, education and the environment.
‘In the Netherlands we are seriously
investigating the possibility of additional
sustainable energy applications. The Netherlands
is ideal for our needs because of its scale and
logistical benefits. We work closely with local,
regional and national authorities to optimize our
business for the sake of the community, the
Dutch economy, and our company.’ Mr. Rein de Jong,
Operations Director Dongen, The Coca Cola Company
‘The quality of its well-known potatoes made
McCain’s expansion into Holland an obvious
strategic decision... Holland is a good European
citizen and a competitive country. This is the
type of environment that helped attract
McCain to the Netherlands.’ Mr.Erwin Pardon, CFO
McCain Europe
‘Thanks to its independent stance, the NFIA is a
very reliable and objective partner – and one
with many years’ experience of supporting
foreign investors – as well as a really extensive
contacts network in the worlds of commerce and
government.’ Mr. Loek Favre, Chief Operating Officer,
IOI-Loders Croklaan Europe
‘Our office in the Netherlands provides a home
to our international sales force as well as local
technical center to support the growth of our
value-added and specialty ingredients portfolio
in Europe.’ Mr. Andrei Mikhalevsky, Managing Director of
Global Ingredients and Foodservices, Fonterra
Source: Energising the Future
Holland is open for foreign
companies and their part in
the future development of
the Dutch Agro-Food sector…
Holland is open for business, open for innovation, open for
cross-disciplinary cooperation and development, which all
leads to business acceleration. This makes it a win-win
situation: new companies will find an unparalleled
environment which supports their new innovative activities,
while the Dutch Agro-Food chain will grow stronger through
their presence. In fact, the Netherlands offers a unique
perspective for foreign Agro-Food companies, including
some very attractive location factors.
The Netherlands is proud to have a high standard of living,
whilst maintaining an affordable life for its residents. The
costs of living, housing, education and cultural activities are
lower than in most western European countries. Furthermore,
all sorts of cultural and leisure activities are open to both
Dutch citizens and visitors alike. Whether it’s spending a
leisurely afternoon on the beach, enjoying culinary delights or
going to one of the cities’ acclaimed museums, theatres or
opera houses, the new expatriate is soon made to feel that the
Netherlands is a most welcoming country.
About the Netherlands Foreign
Investment Agency
The NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) is
an operational unit of the ministry of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture and Innovation. The NFIA helps and advises
foreign companies on the establishment, rolling out
and/or expansion of their international activities in
the Netherlands. The NFIA was established more than
30 years ago and has since supported more than 2,600
companies from 42 countries in the establishment or
expansion of their international activities in the
Netherlands. Besides its headquarters in The Hague,
the NFIA has its own offices in the United Kingdom,
Turkey, North America, Asia and the Gulf Region,
as well as a representative office in Brazil.
Additionally, the NFIA works together with Dutch
embassies, consulates-general, and other organizations
representing the Dutch government abroad, as well as
with a broad network of domestic partners. For more
information please visit: www.nfia.nl.
Photo credits: NL Agency unless otherwise noted - June 2011
The Dutch tax system has a number of features that may be
very beneficial in international tax planning. These include a
corporate income tax rate of 20% on the first €200,000 and 25%
for taxable profits exceeding €200,000. In addition, the Dutch
ruling practice provides clarity and certainty – in advance – on
future tax positions. And with regards to R&D, companies can
benefit from the Innovation Box – resulting in an effective
corporate tax rate of only 5% – as well as an R&D allowance
(WBSO), which takes the form of wage tax and social security
contribution deductions.