NL Chamber Magazine Winter 2023

Page 1

Dutch-Macedonian Chamber of Commerce

1000 Skopje Republic of North Macedonia

e: info@nlchamber.org.mk

w: www.nlchamber.org.mk

nl.mk/whatsapp

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twitter.com/nlchamber

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magazine WINTER 2023 21

events

Dies Natalis goes Ohrid!

(Early) Spring Cocktail

60 years Skopje earthquake with OMA and TUDelft.

Orange Pavilion at agrifair Novi Sad

Expected: discussion under Chatham House Rule Training on business subjects

Dutch companies participate in SUBEX

Entrepreneur Day

Fashion tech show: Into the Light innovation

Macedonian startup partners with Lufthansa members

Staff retainment

Education: relations for the future

CSR Circle

Network enriched with four new members

Pakomak installs modern return vending machines

Pivara Skopje expands with Campari Group partnership

Lavans best laundry in the world

Two milestones and a takeover for IWConnect

NL Chamber was established in January 2012 as official Dutch-Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, according to the Macedonian Law on Chambers of Commerce.

Objective of NL Chamber is to promote and support successful business relations between Dutch and Macedonian companies.

Boekestijn: 500 new trucks, personnel and customer care

Zincum regional representative Leadax

NG in joint-venture for new factory natural stone. Calendar 2023 with Dutch architecture - or customized. short

Short news / Calendar of Trade Fairs

patron members:

cover: Wine House Chardak

events

Dies Natalis goes Ohrid!

After ten years it is time for a change and so NL Chamber’s anniversary celebration moves out of Skopje - and towards summer.

As already announced earlier, the pandemic, the tenth anniversary celebration and the continuously increasing demands from our Chef Paul Houthuijzen, inspired us to a radical change: from now on the Dies Natalis celebration will take place in May and anywhere but Skopje!

harbour club

The first destination of our journey is Ohrid and the ve-

nue will be the Harbour Club, part of hospitality group Cuba Libre, that also runs a restaurant in the Netherlands.

The date is set for 12 May, a Friday that is not interfering with any Dutch, Macedonian or Kosovar national or school holidays.

package deal

Together with our other members from Ohrid, we are working to offer an attractive

package deal with an overnight stay and a leisure programme for Saturday.

Ohrid - Dortmund

For guests from the Netherlands it is good to know that Wizzair flies from Ohrid to Dortmund every Saturday and Tuesday at 13h35.

events

(Early) Spring Cocktail

On 1 March NL Chamber members met in Skopje for a pleasant evening.

Multiple beautiful sunny days in February suggested that spring had already begun but the first of March was autumnly rainy again, making the spring cocktail indeed early. NL Chamber members gathered at Wine House Čardak in Skopje to catch up.

2 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: The Harbour Club Ohrid, NL Chamber
w: www.harbour.mk fb.com/harbourohrid instagram.com/harbourohrid
The HarbouR Club
12 MAY - OHRID

events

60 years Skopje earthquake with OMA and TUDelft.

The Faculty of Architecture hosts a conference on “The Skopje Project”.

In the early morning of Friday 26 July 1963, a devastating earthquake ruined 80% of the buildings of Skopje. The United Nations had the process of reconstruction managed by an International Board of Experts in a colaborative city-planning effort. The Board was chaired by Ernest Weissmann, deputy director of the Economic and Social Council of the UN. In his view The Skopje Project was to turn the city into an epicentre of knowledge that would promote peace, understanding and collaboration through architecture and urban planning.

Dutch architects

The UN invited Japanese architect Kenzō Tange to participate in the competition for the reconstruction plan. Tange got awarded 60% of the total competition. Tange was joined by the Dutch architects Jaap Bakema and Jo van den Broek. They shared the belief that

cities and societies can be designed and reconstructed through humanistic ideas and concepts that are inherent to architecture and urban design.

the power of architecture

The Skopje Project Conference discusses the power of architecture and urban design as drivers for reconstruction of societies in past, present and future. How would urban planning opportunities after such disaster be handled today and what would be the new definitions for the built environment?

Nine international speakers will share their ideas, including Prof. Dirk van den Heuvel of the Bakema Research Center at Delft University of Technology, Prof. Nikos Katsikis of the same university and architect Reinier de Graaf, partner at OMA, the famous Office for Metropolitan Architecture founded in 1975 in Rotterdam by architect Rem Koolhaas.

3 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023

events

Orange Pavilion at agrifair Novi Sad

Dutch companies are invited to join the Dutch stand at the agricultural exhibition.

The Dutch government is organizing a Pavilion at the agricultural fair in Novi Sad. The fair takes place from 20 to 26

May 2023 and Dutch companies are invited to join. Please contact the agricultural office in Budapest or Belgrade.

Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality

Ministry of Agriculture

w: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl

Koen van Ginneken

Agricultural Counsellor, Budapest

l: linkedin.com/in/koen...

e: bdp-lnv@minbuza.nl

Mila Mirkovic

Agricultural Advisor, Belgrade

l: linkedin.com/in/mila...

e: bel-lnv@minbuza.nl

events

Expected:

discussion under Chatham House Rule

A discussion of business leaders with ambassadors is currently being planned.

Partner organizations are currently discussing NL Chamber’s proposal to organize a private discussion of a selected group of business leaders with a panel of foreign ambassadors. Such discussion is to take place under Chatham House Rule, meaning that “participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation

events

of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.” The objective is to freely and bluntly provide the ambassadors with input on sensitive subjects concerning the legal and economic development of North Macedonia.

Training on business subjects

The embassy organized two training sessions in December and February.

The Dutch embassy hosted two training sessions on various business themes for Dutch companies in North Macedonia, based on the results of their business survey. The subjects were legal and tax in December and business planning, project management and digitalization in February.

4 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Mila Mirkovic, NL Chamber

events

Dutch companies participate in SUBEX

The embassy organized a joint stand at the German supplier trade fair in Skopje.

The German AHK organized an international conference and exhibition dedicated to the Macedonian light manufacturing capacities. The twoday event in Skopje under the name SUBEX - Suppliers Bal-

kan Expo - also included prearranged B2B speed meeting sessions. The Netherlands Em-

bassy organized a joint booth in which Dutch companies HAVEP and Lely participated.

events

Entrepreneur Day

Ambassador Kop hosted a cocktail to mark the Day of the Entrepreneur.

Initiated by MKB-Nederland, the Dutch association for SME’s, since 2016 every third Friday of November is the “Day of the Entrepreneur”. Also the Dutch embassy celebrates this day and ambassador Dirk Jan

events

Fashion tech show: Into the Light

Dutch hi-tech fashion designer worked with fashion students in Skopje.

Dutch Hi-Tech Fashion Designer Anouk Wipprecht came to Skopje to work with the students of Lidija Georgieva, professor at the Textile Engineering department of Skopje University. The Netherlands Embassy hosted the show “Into the Light” at the Opera.

5 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Netherlands Embassy, Lidija Georgieva Kop invited representatives of Dutch companies in North Macedonia for a reception at the residence in Bardovci.

innovation

Macedonian startup partners with Lufthansa

Slowly but steadily Synapse Aviation struggled towards success!

An entrepreneur in digital marketing and a seasoned airline pilot were the ingredients for a startup in an undiscovered niche. Filip Arsov and pilot Kocho Mojsov founded Synapse Aviation in 2016 to develop Airport Briefing.

launched in Amsterdam

Briefing flight crews on the circumstances at the destination airport is usually done by sharing textual information in extensive PDF-files.

visualized in 3D

Airport Briefing automates and visualizes the information in 3D, significantly increasing the spatial awareness of the pilot about the destination. Equipped with an accurate mental picture of the operating environment and current conditions, flight crews are better prepared to handle unexpected situations.

The first version of Airport Briefing was officially launched at the international aviation conference and exhibition, the Passenger Terminal Expo in March 2017 in Amsterdam.

Lufthansa partnership

Over the years Synapse Aviation received a total of investments of half a million EUR. In June 2022, Synapse Aviation presented their partnership with Lufthansa Systems, with which the software solution will be implemented at all ten member airlines of the group, including Austrian Airlines, Swiss Airlines and of course Lufthansa Airlines.

See: youtu.be/-ogYcpUb3wU

Fun Fact: Dutch influencer

In the early days of Airport Briefing, Synapse Aviation hired a Dutch influencer to raise awareness about the app within the aviation industry. That influencer was Michelle Gooris, a pilot from Amsterdam, known as @DutchPilotGirl.

Synapse Aviation

w: www.synapseaviation.aero

w: www.airportbriefing.aero

linkedin.com/.../synapse...

fb.com/airportbriefingapp

instagram.com/airportbriefing

6 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Synapse Aviation, @dutchpilotgirl

members

Staff retainment

Examples of member initiatives to retain employees.

The labour market remains very tight and members develop various activities and benefits to retain employees.

sports

In September IT system integrator IWConnect had the second edition of their internal Olympic Games.

Nine teams spent in total some 30 hours together competing in 14 disciplines.

themed parties

In addition to their CSR activities (see elsewhere in this magazine) recruiter Frontwise Group continued organizing themed parties at the office.

Next to their Champagne Fridays, they celebrated Halloween, while also honouring the National Waffle and Nachos Day as well as World Pizza Day.

christmas celebrations

And of course everybody seizes christmas to pay a little extra attention to each other. There

were company dinners, for example by software developer Symphony Solutions.

Transport company Boekestijn surprised its clients with a christmas cake and the manufacturer of heat exchangers Holmak in Bitola treated the staff to a “grazing box”.

7 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: IWConnect, Frontwise Group, Symphony Solutions, Dena textile Productions, Holmak HeatX

Others organized Secret Santa gatherings at the office, like the Skopje team of Dutch marketing agency STEETS did on a Friday evening in December.

rooftop socializing

Some companies are blessed with a marvellous rooftop ter-

race as an excellent location for socializing. Intertec is known for its rooftop parties, but also newcomer Scopisto Advanced Technology enjoys the luxury.

company birthdays

An easy occasion for a party is the birthday of the company.

team building

Although all those activities contribute to a greater cohesion between the staff members, dedicated events to focus on team building are also widely used, especially in the sectors IT and business services. Symphony Solutions used the winter season for a scenic team building weekend in the snowy mountain village Mavrovo.

8 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: NL Chamber, Scopisto Advanced Technology, Frontwise Group, Intertec.io, Symphony Solutions
www.pivaraskopje.com.mk
patron member Both Frontwise and Intertec celebrated their 8th birthday.

members

Education: relations for the future

The business community maintains close ties with educational institutions.

The worlds of business and education are very different, but through the development of future staff the strong connection is undeniable. Various companies maintain relations with educational institutions. On this page a few recent examples from our members.

summer camps

Where the educational systems focus on theory, knowledge and skills, companies can contribute with practical insights and experience. The

a group of students from the Faculty of Biotechnical Science.

job fairs

The other way around, faculties host trade fairs at which companies present themselves as internship provider or future employer to the students. The

previous edition of this magazine already showcased some serious investments in education under Corporate Social Responsibility, such as the summer camps of Pivara Skopje, Boekestijn Transport Service and IWConnect.

open house

But also the day-to-day life at university provides various opportunities for connections. The BiMilk dairy plant in Bitola traditionally holds an Open House on World Quality Day and this time welcomed

best known brand is probably Job Fair, an annual event organized by student association Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) at the technical faculties in Skopje. Several members have been participating at this fair. In De-

logy now considers a partnership to boost their R&D efforts through student assignments.

guest lecturer

Recently, the faculties of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering in Skopje hosted a guest lecture by Maurits van Tol on the future of hydrogen technology.

cember the Technical Faculty of Bitola organized a similar event in which the local branch of Dutch Holmak HeatX participated. The Skopje branch of Dutch e-commerce agency DEPT advertized their offer for paid traineeships in Salesforce at the Faculty of Informatics in Stip.

partnership

Following a visit to the technical faculties in Skopje, the Dutch digital product developer Scopisto Advanced Techno-

Dutchman Van Tol holds a PhD in chemistry from Leiden University and spent almost two decades at Dutch DSM. Since October 2019 he is CTO of Johnson Matthey, a British multinational in specialty chemicals, running a factory for catalysts in the Free Economic Zone Bunardzik near Skopje.

9 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Pivara Skopje, BiMilk, Holmak, NL Chamber, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

members

CSR Circle

News about member initiatives in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility.

NL Chamber members increasingly initiate activities for the greater good of the local society, for example in education, sports and environmental care. Below is an overview of the current initiatives.

our pride our responsibility

Pivara Skopje dedicated the platform of its flagship brand www.skopsko.mk to environmental protection under the slogan “Our pride. Our responsibility”. The platform focusses on cleaning of national landmarks and protection from pollution. Partners are Pakomak, the Ministry of Environment and the municipalities of Debrca, Ohrid and Struga.

environment

On International Volunteer Day (5 December) a hundred

volunteers, including diving clubs Amfora and Akvatek gathered in Ohrid to clean the bottom and banks of Lake Ohrid on seven locations.

tree planting

By the end of December, the ministers of Agriculture and Environment joined the volunteers of Pivara Skopje and

partners to plant 40,000 trees in Kjojlija near the airport and in the vicinity of Lake Mladost near Veles. This action was the result of the massive litter cleanup campaign Generalka Weekend that Pivara, Pakomak and partners organized in May 2022, where they promised to plant a tree for every 10 kg of waste collected.

10 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Pivara Skopje, Akvatek / Nikola Paskali A month earlier, the recruiters of Dutch Frontwise Group planted trees in Kavardarci, as

part of a teambuilding event organized by eco tourism agency Kajak.mk.

film festival sponsor

Frontwise was also sponsor of the international film festival Kinenova that took place in Skopje from 7-14 October.

our members Symphony Solutions and Bimilk as well as the Netherlands Embassy also made donations.

Last but not least, Frontwise donated 30 laptops to Donate Computer, a private initiative started in the early days of the pandemic to enable children to follow online lessons.

from laptops to blood

With that action they found themselves in good company:

Early February IWConnect invited the Institute of Transfusion Medicine to organize blood donations at their offices in Bitola, Prilep and Skopje. For technology director Lazo Ilijoski it was the tenth blood donation.

renovation project

Under its donation label IW4U, the IT system integrator from

Bitola launched a big project in its hometown: the renovation of the sports ground in the Brusnicka neigbourhood. In the first phase, IWConnect arranged for the renovation of the basketball field, which was officially opened in November. The second phase consisted of the complete renewal of the adjacent children’s playground which was finished shortly before New Year.

11 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Frontwise Group, IWConnect

members

Network enriched with four new members

Companies in tourism, coaching, IT and refrigeration joined NL Chamber.

Over the past period the network of NL Chamber got enriched with four new members.

wise a few years ago to slow down a bit. But he is still partner in Dubline, a startup in the telecom sector. And through his consultancy firm Intermak Coaching & Advies he focusses on coaching and business development of others, like for example the Dutch activities of the Ohrid hospitality groupand yet another member of NL Chamber - Cuba Libre

Scopisto Advanced Technology

As announced at the 10th Dies Natalis celebration in June, tourist agency Lale Tours from Ohrid joined in autumn.

Lale

w: www.laletours.com

w: www.lale-pestani.com

fb.com/lale...

fb.com/pension...

instagram.com/laletours

Recently, a new membership was concluded for a fourth company with ties to Ohrid: Gerrit Loopstra is married to a lady from Ohrid. Loopstra is a typical serial entrepreneur with multiple businesses to tend to simultaneously. As co-founder of Frontwise Group, he has been the driving force behind both Dutch companies HSO and The Big Search opening a branch in Skopje. He left Front-

The latest Dutch company settled in Skopje’s popular neighbourhood Debar Maalo last summer. Scopisto Advanced Technology was established by the bright minds that have a track record of turning powerful software solutions into innovative digital products. The

w: www.scopisto-at.com

linkedin.com/../scopisto...

fb.com/scopisto.advanced...

instagram.com/scopisto...

first product dates back to 2012 when MyAdbooker was established to become the world’s first supply-side platform (SSP) for digital-out-ofhome (DOOH) media owners, or in other words: an integrated solution for planning, booking and running highly adaptive advertising campaigns on electronic billboards in public space. The Amsterdam underground network functioned as

12 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: NL Chamber
/
Maja Janevska, Dubline, Scopisto Elisabeth and Christiaan, Lale Tours Gerrit Loopstra, Intermak Coaching Design hydrogen filling station by Scopisto Advanced Technology

their living lab, providing a clear proof of concept. Their solution for charging stations for electrical vehicles provides a highly individualized customer experience with loyalty programmes based on the automatic recognition of the brand and type of car. Following on that experience

Scopisto has partnered with Shell to develop a hydrogen

members

filling solution for fuel cell vehicles, where the challenge was in electronically controlling and measuring the delivery of cooled gas under high pressure.

The last new member in this period is Cooling Point in Bogovinje, manufacturer of large scale refrigerator units for amongst others the hospitality and the retail sectors.

Cooling Point

w: www.coolingpoint.com.mk

fb.com/coolingpoint.mk

instagram.com/coolingpoint...

Pakomak installs modern return vending machines

New machines for collecting plastic bottles and soda cans have been installed.

After the introduction of the concept in autumn 2020, Pakomak recently launched the second version of its return vending machines. Consumers download the Pakomak app and collect points for returning plastic bottles and soda cans

through these machines.

The second edition of the Pakomak machine uses the same components as Western European machines and is therewith significantly quicker than its predecessor. Up to now 26 machines have been installed at Vero and Tinex supermarkets in Skopje and Tetovo and the ambition is to install these machines in every city. Pakomak was established in 2010 by 11 Macedonian food

and beverage producers to organize collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging waste. Companies that bring products on the consumer market are subject to the law on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for management of specific waste flows.

Pakomak

w: www.pakomak.mk

fb.com/pakomak.mk

instagram.com/pakomak

youtube.com/@pakomak3554

members

Pivara Skopje expands with Campari Group partnership

From

March Pivara Skopje is exclusive importer and distributor

Campari Group, established in 1860 in Milan by Gaspare Campari, has a portfolio of over 50 brands, including Aperol, Campari, Bulldog, Bickens, Cinzano, Ouzo 12, SKYY and Wild Turkey. Pivara Skopje has now become the exclusive importer and distributor for North Macedonia.

of Campari brands.

13 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Pakomak, NL Chamber, Pivara Skopje

members

Lavans best laundry in the world

At Textile Care in Milan, Lavans won the Global Best Practices award.

Global branch organization for the professional textile care industry CINET nominated 11 laundries all over the world for the Global Best Practices Award 2022. After a series of pitch presentations in the morning, the award ceremony took place on Friday evening 21 October during the textile care trade fair ExpoDetergo in Milan.

quirky

The Dutch laundry service Lavans got awarded the Global Best Practices Award. According to the jury, consisting of 18 members from 11 countries, Lavans “excels by its quirky, but very conscious management”. Lavans is member of NL Chamber since 2019 when they started producing workwear in Kumanovo.

members

Lavans

e: info@lavans.nl

w: www.lavans.nl

linkedin.com/.../lavans-bv

fb.com/lavansbv

youtube.com/channel/...

Two milestones and a takeover for IWConnect

IWConnect celebrated a client success, reached 300 employees and bought a company.

Back in October representatives of the IWConnect offices in Amsterdam and Skopje joint their client VIRPP at the Amsterdam Dance Event, ADE. This Dutch startup built the VIRal Promo Platform to enable music producers to present unreleased work to professionals in the music industry. VIRPP partnered with ADE for

Demolition XXV, the competition for which musicians used the VIRPP platform to submit their demos.

la, sprouted from IWConnect’s own incubator programme.

IWConnect

w: www.iwconnect.com

linkedin.com/../iwconnect

fb.com/iwconnect

In January IWConnect welcomed their 300th employee and even more recently the company expanded with Global Help Desk, a startup from Bito-

twitter.com/iwconnect

instagram.com/life_at_iw

youtube.com/c/interworks_it

14 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Lavans, IWConnect

members

Boekestijn: 500 new trucks, personnel and customer care

Boekestijn Transport Services ordered 500 new Mercedes trucks

Rapid growth and the need to renew part of the fleet drove Boekestijn to placing a mega order for new trucks. “In two years time we grew from 500 to 1,000 trucks,” explains COO Sjef Boekestijn.

The choice for 500 MercedesBenz Actros 1842 Gigaspace was not only based on the outcome of negotiations with representative Daimler Truck and dealer Wensink, but also

the innovative character of the trucks that smoothly connect with Boekestijn’s own API for realtime data sharing on speed, fuel consumption, GPS etc. CEO Peter Boekestijn: “For us it is important to look ahead to future transformations towards zero-emission trucks.

Leadership in sustainability is what motivates both our organizations.”

great place to work

Boekestijn also choose the highest level of cabin-comfort - and that continuous attention for personnel care brought

Boekestijn Transport Service

w: www.boekestijntransport.com

linkedin.com/.../boekestijn...

fb.com/boekestijntransport

instagram.com/boekestijn...

youtube.com/.../boekestijn...

15 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
Peter (left) and Sjef (third from left) Boekestijn with Mercedes’ team. photos: Boekestijn Transport Service

them the “Great place to work” title at the Polish branch. This was of course an excellent reason to celebrate. In February

all colleagues of Boekestijn in Moldova gathered in the capital Chisinau for the annual winter party. Several employees were awarded for 15 years of service and other achievements.

branded trailer

Similarly, Boekestijn also celebrates great customers and honoured workwear manufacturer HAVEP with a branded

trailer that can now regularly be found somewhere on the road between Goirle in the Netherlands and Kadino in North Macedonia.

No.18: nl.mk/NLC-18

No.17: nl.mk/NLC-17

No.16: nl.mk/NLC-16

No.15: nl.mk/NLC-15

No.14: nl.mk/NLC-14

No.13: nl.mk/NLC-13

16 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
Boekestijn
Ibishi
patron member Royal Van Puijenbroek Textiel w: www.havep.com linkedin.com/company/... facebook.com/havep instagram.com/havepwork... www.youtube.com/user/...
photos:
Transport Service, Ramazan
www.boekestijntransport.com
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No.19: nl.mk/NLC-19
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members

Zincum regional representative Leadax

Dutch company developed a circular alternative for lead waterproofing products.

In 2014, after 15 years in waterproofing solutions for roofs and other applications, Roeland van Delden started developing a sustainable version of the alternatives to lead that were available at that time. That became Leadax, a circular material on a roll for waterproofing that was first in-

duced, Leadax Roov. medieval crane

troduced in 2017. NL Chamber member Zincum in Prizren last year became representative for the Balkans.

recycled PVB

Leadax is made of recycled polyvinyl butyral (PVB), a strong plastic that is widely used as protective interlayer in laminated glass, for example for car windows. Used car windows are therewith the main source of PVB for Leadax.

light and easy

The material is very strong and fire-resistant, but in comparison to lead also light and easy to apply wherever junctions need to be protected from weather conditions. Meanwhile, also a product for flat roofing material was intro-

Last summer a remarkable application of Leadax was unveiled with the reconstruction of the historic city crane in Utrecht. The medieval crane

for unloading ships used to be a landmark in the centre of the city, until its demolition in the 19th century. The replica uses Leadax as a replacement for the lead of the original crane.

Leadax

w: www.leadax.com

linkedin.com/company/leadax

fb.com/leadax

instagram.com/leadax

youtube.com/@leadax1864

Zincum

e: info@zincum.nl

w: www.zincum.nl

linkedin.com/.../zincum

fb.com/zincum.nl

instagram.com/zincum.nl

17 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: Leadax, Stichting Stadskraan, Centraal Museum Utrecht “De Ganzenmarkt en de Stadhuisbrug te Utrecht”, ca. 1615, J.C. Droochsloot

members

NG in joint-venture for new factory natural stone.

The Dutch natural stone importer invests in a processing facility in Radovish.

Since the first visit to a quarry in 2008, the initiators behind NG focused on a way to make Macedonian natural stone attractive for the Dutch market. Their formula of cutting natural stone into a facade product that would not slow down the bricklaying of typical cavity walls has been very successful.

processing facility

Due to this success, the natural stone processing capacities need to be both increased and professionalized. NG entered into a participation in one of the quarry operators and founded a joint-venture under the name Macedonian Diamonds

members

to establish a modern processing facility in Radovish.

w: www.bouwenmetnatuursteen.nl

linkedin.com/bouwenmet... fb.com/bouwenmet...

instagram/bouwenmet...

youtube.com/@ngbouwen...

Calendar 2023 with Dutch architecture - or customized.

This year’s theme for the calendar is Dutch architecture, but customized for Steel Con.

NL Chamber’s desk calendar for 2023 - in a Macedonian and a Kosovo edition - got the theme of contemporary Dutch architecture. The result is 13 remarkable buildings by 13 different architects: a student housing complex, villas, offices, apartment buildings, houses and even a library. All built in the last couple of decades, except from the Rietveld Schröderhuis (1924) and mainly in Amsterdam and Utrecht - for this edition.

steel construction version

Dutch steel construction producer Steel Con ordered 200 pieces of an adapted version for their relations. The Steel Con calendar is of course branded in Steel Con logos and colours and has, obviously, “steel construction” as a theme.

18 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: NG, NL Chamber NG Bouwen met Natuursteen

short Scam

Last months a regularly appearing scam was going around again, suggesting a free of charge update of your company details in the Europe Business Guide. Signing of the form bounds the victim to a three-year subscription of 990 EUR, to be extended automatically with another year. Exactly the same goes for the World Company Register, but in all such scams it is highly unlikely that victims will ever be forced in court to pay the invoices.

NL bicycle market

The number of bicycles sold in the Netherlands is still increasing, but consumers are also moving towards more expensive ones, according to branch organization BOVAG.

bikes over 2.700 EUR

In 2021 19% of all sold bicycles had a price tag in the highest segment: over 2.700 EUR. In 2017 the share of the highest price segment was only 4% of the total number of bikes sold. The total number of new bicy-

cles sold in 2021 was 1.5 million, of which 60% was more expensive than 900 EUR and only 9% cheaper than 300 EUR.

1.1 million e-bikes

Main reason is the increasing popularity of the electric bike. In 2021 the number of racing bikes sold was 69.228, but the number of sold e-bikes reached 1.1 million in that same year. The total number of bicycles in the Netherlands in 2021 was 23.4 million, of which 3.4 million electrical bicycles.

Corendon Ohrid

After a few years of absence, Dutch tour operator Corendon is restarting tourist flights to North Macedonia.

From 7 July until 1 September Corendon will operate a weekly flight from Maastricht Aachen Airport to Saint Paul the Apostle Airport of Ohrid.

World Bulk Wine

Four Macedonian wineries, including Movino from Rosoman, exhibited at the World Bulk Wine trade fair in Amsterdam.

19 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
photos: @puckmoonen, Maastricht Aachen Airport, Wines of Macedonia Europe Business Guide (above) and World Company Register (below) scams

short

Trade Fairs

Selection of upcoming trade fairs in the Netherlands.

This list of upcoming trade fairs in the Netherlands and Belgium is a selection of larger fairs as well as smaller fairs in particular niches.

NB: All blue text is clickable!

Major trade fairs take place at:

Jaarbeurs, Utrecht

99,000 sqm, 13 halls

www.jaarbeurs.nl

RAI, Amsterdam

87,000 sqm, 11 halls

www.rai.nl

Ahoy, Rotterdam

30,000 sqm, 6 halls

www.ahoy.nl

Regional locations are:

Brabanthallen, ‘s-Hertogenb.

29,500 sqm, 6 halls

IJsselhallen, Zwolle

17,000 sqm, 4 halls

MECC, Maastricht

29,500 sqm, 4 halls

Other locations:

Autotron, Rosmalen

Evenementenhal, Gorinchem

Evenementenhal, Hardenberg

Expo Houten, Houten

Kromhouthal, Amsterdam

Most fairs have entrance fees and offer discounts for early registration online.

Please do not hesitate to contact NL Chamber when you plan to visit a fair in the Netherlands or Belgium.

This overview of trade fairs is also published separately:

19-21.03.2023 ProWein, Messe - Düsseldorf

Macedonian pavilion at 12A10

21-23.03.2023 Aqua Nederland, Evenementenhal - Gorinchem

370 exhibitors in water technology

21-23.03.2023 Amsterdam Drone Week, RAI - Amsterdam

global platform on drone innovation and regulation

22-23.03.2023 Worksafe, Expo - Antwerp

120 exhibitors in health & safety at work

22-23.03.2023 Maintenance, Expo - Antwerp

190 exhibitors in industrial maintenance

22-23.03.2023 M+R, Expo - Antwerp

50 exhibitors in process measurement and control

24-26.03.2023 Beurs Eigen Huis, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht consumer fair for (re)construction of private homes

29-30.03.2023 WebWinkel Vakdagen, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht

250 exhibitors and top speakers digital commerce

05-06.04.2023 Empack, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch

220 exhibitors in packaging printing, labelling and converting, automation and logistics

05-06.04.2023 Packaging Innovations, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertog. consumer packaging

12-13.04.2023 Food Technology, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch exhibition/conf. high tech innovations in food industry

12-13.04.2023 Labtechnology, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch conference and exhibition on laboratory technology

18-20.04.2023 Maintenance Next, Ahoy - Rotterdam manufacturing and services in industrial maintenance

19-20.04.2023 Cybersec Europe, Expo - Brussels exhibition on IT security, data and cloud solutions

10-11.05.2023 Plastic Recycling Show, RAI - Amsterdam exhibition and conference

23-24.05.2023 World of Private Label / PLMA, RAI - Amsterdam european private label producers in food and non-food 2,000 exhibitors, 50 regional pavilions

23-25.05.2023 Maritime Industry, Evenementenhal - Gorinchem

350 exhibitors in maritime industry

24-25.05.2023 Test Automation Days, WTC - Rotterdam conference on software testing

24-25.05.2023 Advanced Engineering, Expo - Antwerp

110 exhibitors in advanced industrial engineering

06-08.06.2023 Money20/20, RAI - Amsterdam

European edition of the global FinTech conference

07-08.06.2023 Robotics&Motion, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch futureproof industrial integrated systems

07-09.06.2023 Vakbeurs Facilitair, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht

250 exhibitors; products/services facility management i.e. maintenance, cleaning, catering, ict, reception etc.

13-15.06.2023 GreenTech, RAI - Amsterdam global exhibition on horticulture and floriculture

13-15.06.2023 Provada, RAI - Amsterdam

270 exhibitors, 250 speakers: real estate development

13-15.06.2023 Zorg & ICT, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht healthcare and ict

15-16.06.2023 TNW Conference, TAETS - Zaandam

Europe’s leading tech festival by Financial Times company The Next Web; 10,000 visitors/120 countries

27-28.06.2023 Home Delivery World, RAI - Amsterdam conference/exhibition last-mile retail logistics: white glove services, grocery e-commerce, urban logistics

28-29.06.2023 European Women in Tech, RAI - Amsterdam conference with 70 speakers

20 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023
Overview of Trade Fairs nl.mk/tradefairsNL

09-10.07.2023 Modefabriek, RAI - Amsterdam sales exhibition of the major fashion brands

30.08.2023- HISWA te Water, Batavia Haven - Lelystad

03.09.2023 300 exhibitors at Amsterdam Boat Show

03-04.09.2023 showUP, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch wholesale fair for home decoration, accessories, gifts

12-13.09.2023 Big Data Expo, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht

85 exhibitors and 100 lectures

12-16.09.2023 50plusbeurs, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht

600 exhibitors in travel, living, comfort for elderly

15-18.09.2023 IBC, RAI - Amsterdam media, entertainment and technology show with 1,700 exhibitors and 55,000 visitors (170 countries) including conference and topics OTT, 4K, HDR, VR, Streaming VOD, Cloud Hosting, Ultra HD and IPTV

16-18.09.2023 Vélovak, Evenementenhal - Gorinchem

140 exhibitors for bicycle retailers and distributors

20-21.09.2023 Kunststoffenbeurs, Brabanthallen-‘s-Hertogenbosch exhibition for the entire plastics production chain

22-24.09.2023 Beurs Eigen Huis, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht consumer fair for (re)construction of private homes

22-24.09.2023 Camper Beurs, Evenementenhal - Hardenberg

70 exhibitors in campers

24-26.09.2023 Interieur Collectie, Evenementenhal - Gorinchem 100 exhibitors in flooring, window and wall covering 26-27.09.2023 TechEx Europe, RAI - Amsterdam IoT, AI, Big Data, cyber security, cloud, 5G, blockchain

26-28.09.2023 Stainless Steel World, Mecc - Maastricht world conference and expo

27-28.09.2023 Expo for Public Space, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht design, planning and maintenance of public space

02-03.10.2023 Vakbeurs Foodspecialiteiten, Expo - Houten food specialties trade fair

04-05.10.2023 Solids Rotterdam, Ahoy - Rotterdam

70 exhibitors in bulk processing, storage and transport

04-05.10.2023 Pumps & Valves, Ahoy - Rotterdam industrial fluid and gas technologies exhibition

04-08.10.2023 Kampeer & Caravan Jaarbeurs, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht camping and caravan trade fair

09-11.10.2023 BBB Horeca Exhibition, Mecc - Maastricht

400 exhibitors and 14,000 visitors in horeca

10-12.10.2023 Energie, Brabanthallen - ‘s-Hertogenbosch

200 exhibitors; energy saving, sustainable energy

10-12.10.2023 MetaVak, Evenementenhal - Gorinchem

120 exhibitors in metal working

10-12.10.2023 Intermodal Europe, RAI - Amsterdam

container transport and logistics exhibition

10-12.10.2023 EDUtech Europe, RAI - Amsterdam

conference and exhibition on education

17-19.10.2023 Transport & Logistics, Expo - Antwerp

150 exhibitors in transport and logistics

24-26.10.2023 Parcel+Post Expo, RAI - Amsterdam

parcel delivery and e-commerce logistics technology

24-26.10.2023 RMV, Evenementenhal - Hardenberg

250 exhibitors in cattle and mechanization

01-02.11.2023 TBX-Tech.Business.Accelerate, Jaarbeurs - Utrecht free conference on digital transformation

06-09.11.2023 Aquatech, RAI - Amsterdam

650 exhibitors in water solutions

07-10.11.2023 Europort, Ahoy - Rotterdam

500 exhibitors in maritime technology

21 magazine no. 21 / Winter 2023 Overview of Trade Fairs
nl.mk/tradefairsNL
photos: Jaarbeurs, RAI

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