Friday, October 24, 2014
SPECIAL REPORT
NETHERLANDS
COUNTRY REPORT
INSIDE: 5-PAGE SPONSORED SECTION IN CO-OPERATION WITH DISCOVERY REPORTS
Existing strong ties get a boost Chinese leader’s visit further strengthens solid trade and economic ties, writes Nazvi Careem
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hina has enjoyed excellent trade and economic relations with the Netherlands for decades but, this year, the bond was strengthened with President Xi Jinping’s visit to the European country in March. Xi became the first Chinese leader to make an official state visit to the Netherlands, where he met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as both sides vowed to step up trade and economic co-operation. The two leaders were present for the signing of a number of agreements on bilateral cooperation in energy, agriculture, trade and culture. The Chinese leader, who also met King Willem-Alexander, identified further areas such as hi-tech, finance and tourism in which China and the Netherlands can enhance already solid relationships. In the wake of Xi’s visit, Cui Hongjian, director of the department of European studies at the China Institute of International Studies, was quoted as saying the
Netherlands is a central market in Beijing’s quest to improve economic ties with Europe. “The Netherlands is still the trade and investment centre in Europe, and much is expected for the co-operation between China and the Netherlands. Deepening co-operation is beneficial to both and important for the global economic recovery,” Cui said. The Netherlands has been China’s second-largest trading partner from the European Union for the past 11 years, while there are close to 400 companies and investment projects from China in the Netherlands. Imports in 2012 were valued at ¤32 billion (HK$317 billion). The majority of imported products (two-thirds) were machinery including computers (13 per cent) and computer parts (10 per cent). Close to 50 per cent of computers imported to the Netherlands come from China. In turn, Dutch exports to China in 2012 were valued at ¤7.7 billion and largely comprised organic chemical materials for the manufacturing industry. Xi said extensive trade and
economic co-operation had played a positive role in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries, and that the Netherlands was China’s gateway to Europe. During his visit, Dutch and Chinese companies signed contracts valued at around ¤1.5 billion. China is the Netherlands’ third-largest import country, after Germany and Belgium. Food security is one area where the Netherlands and China face similar challenges. During Xi’s visit, the two countries signed a trade pact in which the Dutch pledged to provide dairy expertise to help Chinese manufacturers raise the quality and quantity of their milk products. China is keen to repair the reputation of its dairy sector after the 2008 scandal in which milk powder in the mainland was found to be tainted with the chemical melamine. The Dutch government said its experts would help China increase its annual milk production to 40 billion kilograms over the next few years.
President Xi Jinping meets Dutch King Willem-Alexander. Both sides vowed to step up trade and economic co-operation. Photo: AP According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), investments in bilateral economic relations are increasing, with the major Dutch multinationals having a strong presence in China. The Netherlands remains in the top three among EU countries investing in China, with Dutch companies able to take advantage of a largely predictable investment climate and improved access to China’s massive market. Technological and academic partnership between the Netherlands and China is also a major factor in forging ties between the two countries. Several Dutch tertiary education institutions have ties with their Chinese counterparts, and many
Chinese students choose to further their studies in the Netherlands. The Dutch also have six Netherlands Business Support Offices on the mainland in Chengdu, Jinan, Nanjing, Dalian, Qingdao and Wuhan. These bodies provide support for Dutch businesses, offering information, matchmaking services, market scans, promotional activities, economic diplomacy and support for trade missions. Hong Kong and the Netherlands have enjoyed healthy trade ties for more than 150 years. Total exports from the city to the Netherlands last year rose by 1 per cent to US$5.4 billion, although HKTDC figures show that the figure fell by 8 per
cent to US$421 million for the first month of 2014. Major export items to the Netherlands include telecommunications equipment and parts, apparel and textiles, computers, footwear, parts and accessories for office machines and computers, electrical machinery, travel goods, silver and platinum, and electrical products. Imports to Hong Kong from the Netherlands grew 11 per cent to US$3.4 billion last year, but fell 11 per cent in the first month of 2014 to US$266 million. Major import items are dairy products, telecommunications equipment and parts, meat, printing and bookbinding machinery, chocolate and other foods containing cocoa.
Apart from trade, the Netherlands has a strong presence in Hong Kong in finance, transport, retailing and other sectors. There are around 250 Dutch companies with a presence in Hong Kong, including BN AMRO, ING and Rabobank (finance), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and P&O Nedlloyd (transport), Philips (electronics), Shell (petroleum), Heineken (beer distribution), Vendex KBB and Mexx (fashion retailing). By the middle of last year, 46 Dutch companies had regional headquarters in the city and 68 had regional offices in Hong Kong. In addition, close to 3,000 Dutch nationals were residing in Hong Kong at the end of last year.
Dutch fare at its freshest ................................................ John Cremer
Views of Canal Prinsengracht and the Anne Frank House from the bell tower of the church Westerkerk.
The entrance to the Van Gogh Museum, located in Amsterdam’s museum quarter. Photos: Thinkstock
Crafted by angels, waterways give city reasons to flourish ................................................ Xav Judd The Netherlands’ spiritual capital is an alluring confection of imposing architecture, fascinating museums and serene canals. Water has played an important part in the city’s evolution, being responsible for its original incarnation. In the 12th century, fishermen erected a bridge and dam across the River Amstel, resulting in the village of Amstelredamme. Situated in the western Netherlands in the province of North Holland, Amsterdam is home to about 810,000 residents. To understand the geography of this vibrant metropolis, it’s vital to realise that everything radiates outwards from its medieval heart. Split into Oude Zijde (Old Side) and Nieuwe Zijde (New Side), this inner area is notorious for the red-light district and numerous marijuana-selling coffee shops. Nonetheless, worthwhile attractions such as the Royal Palace and the voyage of discovery that is Science Centre NEMO are in this vicinity. Surrounding this ancient centre is what perhaps most of all makes one think Amsterdam may have been crafted by angels – the Canal Ring. This 17thcentury Unesco World Heritage
site comprises six concentric waterways that branch out into assorted tree-lined, smaller channels. These aquatic routes add up to more than 100km, inspiring the city’s title of “Venice of the North”. Along many of the principal canals, all of which seem to flow under picturesque bridges, are impressive restaurants, pubs and galleries. The extraordinary photographic institution Foam is beside Keizersgracht, while the whirl of colour that is the flower market Bloemenmarkt floats on barges on Singel, and the Anne Frank House sits parallel to Prinsengracht. This exhibition movingly conveys the story of its diary-writing Jewish heroine, who hid in the building with her family in an attempt to avoid Nazi deportation and extermination. Awe and wonder await you in Amsterdam’s museum quarter. The Rijks, Stedelijk and Van Gogh museums can all be found here. The latter will be holding an exposition to mark the 125th anniversary of the death of this extraordinary, enigmatic painter. To delve into the psyche of another master of the canvas, stop off at the Rembrandthuis. Inside this residence, where the legendary artist lived from 1639 to 1658, it’s possible to view Rembrandt’s etchings and
discover how he produced them. Visitors can also draw their own sketches. Rembrandt’s great masterpieces contributed to what became known as the Dutch Golden Age. During this epoch, roughly spanning the 17th century, the Netherlands became the leading economic and maritime power on the planet. As the nation’s major port at the time (which has since been overtaken by Rotterdam), Amsterdam played a vital role, and became the site of the world’s first modern stock exchange. Commerce, architecture, literature, painting, sculpture and science all flourished. In the 17th century, Jordaan used to be a working-class district. Today, after a period of gentrification that started in the 1980s, it deserves attention as arguably the hippest enclave in town. Crammed into its mazelike streets are several cool bars, cafes and fashion outlets. Less than a 10-minute stroll away, a similarly fun shopping experience can be had in the Negen Straatjes (the nine streets), which are peppered with boutique and vintage stores. Although the Netherlands is celebrated for its cheese – it’s the biggest exporter in the world –
and pancakes, Amsterdam has even more to offer when it comes to food. For authentic Dutch cuisine, Greetje on the Nieuwmarkt is the ideal stop-off. Named after the chef’s mother, this restaurant’s wooden-plank floors, crystal chandeliers and Delft tiles are the perfect setting in which to savour a tasty reworking of national dishes. For sophisticated international fare, nothing beats De Kas, which is situated in Frankendael Park in a stunning former greenhouse built in 1926. Less than 3km up the road is Brouwerij’t IJ, a brewery that has been fermenting its own delicious beer since 1985. Amsterdam has a maritime climate due to its proximity to the North Sea. Consequently, its four distinct seasons are all relatively mild, although the city can often be rather overcast and rainy. In winter, it rarely drops below minus 5 degrees Celsius, while summers enjoy an average daily temperature of 17 degrees. May to August is probably the best time to visit, when there’s around 15 to 17 hours of daylight. An unforgettable excursion at this time of year is a trip to Kinderdijk (Children’s Dyke). An hour outside town, it’s a sleepy old village famous for its 19 Unesco World Heritage windmills from the 1740s.
The Netherlands may not be as famous for its cuisine as, say, France or Italy, but Dutch menus still offer many excellent selections often featuring seafood, fresh vegetables and hearty meat dishes guaranteed to keep out the cold during the winter months. With productive coastal waters, a fishing fleet trawling the North Sea and a centurieslong tradition for dairy farming and market gardening, there is an understandable national preference for healthy eating and seasonal specialities. And for anyone in Hong Kong, local or expat, keen to get a taste of some typically Dutch fare without travelling halfway around the world, there is one easy way: head to the Orange Tree restaurant in SoHo. Located next to the MidLevels escalator between Caine Road and Mosque Junction and billed as Hong Kong’s only restaurant specialising in Dutch/continental cuisine, it offers a regularly changing menu and daily specials which depend on what is in season and freshly imported that morning. “Holland is a world leader in agriculture and seafood products, and we want people to see what that means,” says chef/ patron Pieter Onderwater, who opened the restaurant 17 years ago and has seen it remain a firm favourite with diners ever since. “Therefore, we import a lot of fresh fish, including Dover sole, as well as mussels, oysters and small shrimps, and by buying direct from fishermen and wholesalers in Holland, rather than through local middlemen, we have better control of the quality and price.” This operation sees fish landed and at market on the Dutch coast on a Wednesday morning, for example, before being flown out that night and on the table in Hong Kong on Thursday evening. The same basic principle applies when importing popular favourites like white asparagus – usually served with ham, egg
Eel shrimp herring is directly imported from the Netherlands. and hollandaise sauce as a starter or main course – and for some vegetables and crisp garden greens. A late summer or early autumn à la carte menu might well have appetisers such as rucola and baby spinach salad with goat cheese, artichoke hearts and oven-roasted tomatoes, smoked Balik-style salmon with asparagus salad, apple-wood smoked eel fillets, garnaatjes North Sea shrimps, or bitter ballen deep-fried beef dumplings with Dijon mustard. “We have a very diverse clientele and many of the local Hongkongers particularly like the dumplings and deep-fried croquettes, which we sometimes refer to as Dutch dim sum,” Onderwater says. “Hong Kong diners in general are very
Bitter ballen from Orange Tree, the city’s only Dutch restaurant
concerned about fresh ingredients, and we notice that if they love seafood and sushi, they love salted herring.” Indeed, the arrival of each year’s “new” herring is always a special day to mark on the calendar and a major dining attraction for aficionados and first-timers alike. Not far behind in terms of appeal is the start of the mussel season, while options like roasted North Sea plaice, pan-fried whole Dover sole, and free-range organic pork also have a devoted following. “If we get in, say, a nice box of sea cod, that will immediately be put on the menu,” Onderwater says. As the year advances and the temperature drops, interest naturally turns to more “warming” dishes like stews and roasts, which are also timehonoured staples of any Dutch kitchen. Orange Tree main courses as winter approaches therefore include oven-roasted lamb shanks with thyme served with a “Hutspot” mash of carrots, potatoes and onions. An always popular house special is lamb fillets and eggplant baked in puff pastry on a bed of creamed leeks and rosemary. There is turkey at Christmas, and any meal can be rounded with a choice of at least five Dutch cheeses, imported from artisan cheese makers, and perhaps a glass of genever, the juniperflavoured Holland gin.
S2 Friday, October 24, 2014
SPECIAL REPORT: NETHERLANDS COUNTRY REPORT
University of Groningen programmes bridge science and society ................................................ Reports by Stacey Johnson, David Bell and Stacey Wilkinson
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op-notch education usually comes at a price, particularly for international students at prestigious universities. A British survey reveals undergraduates from outside Europe pay up to four times the maximum amount charged to British and European students. But premium education need not cost much. This is according to Professor Sibrand Poppema, president of University of Groningen. “Our tuition fees for international students are similar to what we would get from a Dutch student,” Poppema says. “We are not in the business of making a big profit. Our goal is to have a fully internationalised classroom by 2020.” Highly rated in the academic research sphere, the 400-year-old University of Groningen is among the
Professor Sibrand Poppema, president
Top 100 of the world’s prestigious ranking lists including Shanghai’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings. It also garnered a top spot in the latest Global
Employability Survey conducted by European firms Emerging and Trendence and published in The New York Times. The university was built primarily to train the world’s future leaders. Encouraging critical thought, its educational style focuses on solving
society’s problems by participating in top-calibre research collaborations. Its range of courses within key areas – energy, agriculture, sustainability and healthy ageing – continues to expand as the university equips students with hard and soft skills essential in unlocking the world’s puzzles. “The broader we are, the better we can focus as a university,” Poppema says. “Being very strong in material science, we will expand our engineering programmes to bridge the gap between science and industries. In the same way, we are expanding our agriculture programmes to harness the link between food and healthy ageing.” These curricula support the university’s internationalisation goals. It offers double degree and joint programmes with China’s top universities including Fudan University, Tsinghua University and Peking University. It is initiating similar collaborations with premier learning institutions in South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.
ERS Railways to link China with Europe ERS Railways’ keen customer focus lends dynamism to a rather traditional industry. With established routes from its headquarters in Rotterdam into the hinterlands of Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland and Turkey, the next stop for Europe’s leading rail cargo company would be China. By connecting Chengdu to Rotterdam via Poland, ERS Railways would be cutting cargo travel time from China to Europe from about 50 days to less than 20. “I think it’s a sensible solution because if you’re coming from China into Europe, you can disperse cargo in Central Europe on your way into Western Europe,” says Frank Schuhholz, ERS Railways’ managing director. “It’s all about meeting
customer imagination and needs. The expansion is something we want to pursue this time when production in China is moving westward.” Such emphasis on clients’ strategic interests has enabled the company to win the trust of more than 450 customers comprising forwarders, carriers and logistics service providers. By offering addons such as GPS tracking, ERS Railways offers worry-free transport of shipments arriving at the ports. “We’re definitely more competitive than the normal trucking business when it comes to speed and reliability,” Schuhholz says. This advantage will further heighten as the Netherlands’ rail sector moves towards complete
reliance on renewable energy sources by 2018. While the programme will bring down rail transport costs, it will also result in zero CO2 emissions as the industry will fully rely on wind energy. Almost all of ERS Railways’ locomotives are electric. A part of international rail and logistics provider Freightliner Group, ERS Railways celebrates its 20th anniversary this year by expanding its reach through partnerships. “We’re curious and we want to explore,” Schuhholz says. “We want to serve as a backbone of intercontinental supply chains and welcome collaborations in running services into and out of Europe towards Asia.”
Frank Schuhholz, managing director
Sponsored section in co-operation with Discovery Reports
VanRiet unveils intralogistics solutions at Shanghai fair At the CeMAT fair in Hannover last May, visitors were impressed as intralogistics specialist VanRiet Material Handling Systems unveiled its next-generation sorting solution. Shuffling packages at more than 2.5 metres per second, the IQ-Grid is 25 per cent faster than any other system available worldwide. The innovation can also change the direction of items at the touch of a button, while its modular design ensures almost 100 per cent uptime. This is because each IQ cassette making up the system can be pulled out for repair without disrupting operations. Next week, Asian businesses will witness first-hand more examples of such innovation from VanRiet. Among the exhibitors at the CeMAT Asia fair to be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from October 27 to 30, the company will showcase 66 years of expertise aimed at optimising clients’ operations and return on investments.
Rik van den Boog, CEO “Companies need to differentiate not anymore on the price, but on efficiency and complexity to match the fast-moving world,” says Rik van den Boog, CEO. “There’s no other way but to automate, and that’s where we come in.” Rooted in its deep understanding
of business processes, VanRiet has grown from a global leader for shoe-sorter systems to an intralogistics solutions specialist for parcels, flowers and tyres, among others. The world’s top parcel delivery companies trust VanRiet as their partner. With its flat organisational structure and best-in-class technology, the company works closely with clients to develop solutions that precisely match their requirements. “We always deliver on our promise,” van den Boog says. “By developing highquality and forward-looking systems, we give them an edge against the competition.” Such commitment has given VanRiet a significant business in China through wholly owned subsidiary VanRiet Technologies. “We’re moving closer to Asia through potential collaborations with top system integrators,” van den Boog says.
Incotec grows crop yield, cultivates food safety in Asia Seed companies in Asia have been upgrading their crop technologies to boost agricultural production. With more mouths to feed and more people requiring safer, healthier and better-tasting fruits and vegetables, Incotec helps plant growers improve food production by cultivating innovative seed enhancement solutions. Incotec improves seed quality through highly sophisticated technologies: by selecting seeds based on their quality; and by pregerminating seeds, making the seeds disease-free and coating them with different kinds of additives that protect or stimulate the plant in its growth. The wholly owned Dutch company gives growers the tools to increase production while using less resources such as plant protection products, fertilisers and water. As a technology producer for field crop, vegetable and ornamental seeds, Incotec is known for the development and introduction of seed improvement innovations.
JanWillem Breukink, senior executive board member
One of its latest developments is the introduction of a combined disinfection and priming technology using hot, humid air. Labelled ThermoSeed, the technology is successfully applied in crops such as wheat and rice, with capacities of 15 tonnes per hour, resulting in
disease-free seeds that show faster and more uniform germination. Another Incotec innovation is the breakthrough seed-coating technology that combats the golden apple snail pest in rice. The hi-tech coating with a specially designed additive protects the rice plant against the snail and avoids the use of toxic chemical crop protection products that are harmful to farmers and the environment. Active in 13 locations, including Beijing, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, Incotec is looking for more partnerbreeding companies, seed producers and growers associations from countries such as China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia that can effectively adopt its technologies. “We work with growers so they can produce more food and safer food,” says JanWillem Breukink, senior executive board member. “We bring the added value to seeds to help improve food production and food safety.”
CSi offers modular conveying and palletising solutions Manufacturers and contract packagers in Asia are moving towards automation due to increasing labour costs and stringent manual labour regulations. CSi Industries, one of the world’s market leaders in intelligent product handling systems, seeks to replicate its success in the region with dedicated palletising solutions. “We provide cost-effective and highly functional, best-in-class solutions to assist clients in streamlining their palletising operations, thus strongly improving efficiency,” says Jan de Bruijn, managing director. A turnkey supplier of a wide range of materials handling applications, CSi specialises in endof-line automated palletising and conveying systems for fast-moving consumer goods. With 50 years’ experience, CSi is a long-term partner of manufacturing giants, including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International. Taking advantage of the mainland’s strong demand for
Jan de Bruijn, managing director
automated equipment, CSi runs offices in Guangzhou and Shanghai to handle sales and serve international clients. To reduce transport costs and shorten delivery time, CSi set up a facility in Foshan which started delivering palletising equipment in May. CSi’s machinery components are produced or bought in China, and the
critical components are sourced from its assembly facility in Romania. The company develops its software systems in the Netherlands. “Our products are inexpensive because we have standardised our modules and operate in low-cost environments. Having European technology, quality and reliability is our competitive edge,” de Bruijn says. A testament to the company’s innovative standardising solutions is the i-Pal robot palletiser. Highly flexible, i-Pal has a wide range of pre-programmed stacking patterns for easy operation and can handle up to 20 products per minute. The total investment for i-Pal, however, is less than US$100,000. Looking into the growth potential for palletising machinery in Asia, CSi is eyeing local sales partners with high service capabilities. Besides China, CSi seeks to strengthen operations in Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand. The company intends to increase its sales and support team in Asia to gain traction in the regional market.
Odin Marine ready for China’s rising chemical exports China is transitioning from being one of the world’s biggest importers of bulk liquid chemicals to potentially the industry’s biggest exporter. The entire shipping sector is bracing for the change that may transform the global competitive landscape – and none is more ready than diversified ship-brokering firm Odin Marine Europe. “Fuelled by domestic manufacturing and increasingly innovative technologies, China is poised to alter the dynamics of the global chemicals market,” says managing director Peter van den Akker. “Serving major oil and trading companies, Odin Marine ships about 3.3 million tonnes of chemicals to Asia and China annually – and we aim to grow with the region as we pursue new clients and partners.” Pioneering innovative logistics services and solutions, Odin Marine aggressively expanded from a crude oil broker in 1976 to servicing all bulk liquid markets, including chemicals and specialised products,
Peter van den Akker, managing director
clean and crude petroleum products, alcohols and vegetable oils. Today, services include freight, contracts, sales and purchase of vessels, new building projects and demolition markets. Odin Marine spans a global reach through 95 employees, 19 nationalities and offices in the
United States, the Netherlands, the UAE and Singapore, seamlessly linked by an integrated information technology structure and a closeknit network of chartering and shipowning communities. Among the most advanced in the industry, the company streamlines all processes through enterprise resource planning software and other platforms that optimise efficiency and transparency for all shipments. Adding value to its comprehensive services, it also monitors and analyses market trends, which are summarised in reports for clients’ use. “There are no uncovered spots for Odin Marine. Call us a one-stop shop for all requirements concerning market intelligence, products handling, port operations, maritime regulations and worldwide fleet access,” van den Akker says. “Yet clients can expect nothing less than personalised service with the flexibility they require for safe, timely and cost-effective solutions to their needs.”
Friday, October 24, 2014 S3 Sponsored section in co-operation with Discovery Reports
SPECIAL REPORT: NETHERLANDS COUNTRY REPORT
Dutch logistics firm feels right at home in China
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Ulf Boll, CEO
lobal commodity flows are subject to ever-changing trading patterns. This is something that commodity warehousing and logistics companies such as Netherlands-based C. Steinweg have always had to watch closely. After setting up its Asian head office in Singapore in 1983, Steinweg continued its regional expansion with the opening of more than 15 offices and warehouses in the Far East. Apart from being active in many ports in China, Steinweg also has operations in South Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia. Steinweg expanded into southern Africa in 2011, offering its customers a logistics footprint with 10 large locations in South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia, among others. The company handles mostly goods on their way to the Chinese market. The history of
Steinweg, however, goes back much further in time to 1847, when the company was established in Rotterdam. Today, Steinweg operates in more than 100 locations and employs more than 4,000 people. The commodity scope of Steinweg covers base metals and minor metals, ferro alloys and steel. Soft commodities such as coffee, cocoa, cotton, tobacco, chemicals and plastics make up the remaining spectrum. Most of the goods handled by Steinweg are of high value. Therefore, the reputation and acceptance of Steinweg by major international banks and insurance companies as a trustworthy service provider are of utmost importance. “Our reputation, our firm footing in the commodity trade and our firstclass assets are what makes Steinweg different from other logistics companies,” says CEO Ulf Boll. The distribution services provided to these commodity trades vary from storage and warehousing to shipping and transport. These services have
Mechatronics introduces automated diagnostic instruments into Asia RR Mechatronics’ passion for innovation is driving efficiency and quality of medical laboratories worldwide. A specialist in precision blood diagnostic instruments, the company pioneered the automation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) testing used to differentiate between infection-related diseases and other illnesses. Its StaRRsed series of
analysers allows laboratories to handle more than 300 such tests in an hour. Complying with international standards, the instrument is fully automated, from loading and presorting to drying and cleaning pipettes for the next round of blood samples. “It’s all about reliability,” says CEO Jan Buis. “We’re combining expertise in fluidics, mechanics,
Jan Buis, CEO
electronics, optics and software development with haematology knowledge and best laboratory practices to develop best-inclass instruments.” With nearly 30 years of clinical laboratory experience, Mechatronics is the trusted partner for ESR in medical laboratories in more than 30 countries. The LoRRca series of red blood cell analysers also helps medical researchers in Australia, Thailand, Taiwan and other areas in researching treatments for obesity and diseases such as malaria. “We’re investing in new product developments to address the market trend towards reducing the total cost of ownership,” Buis says. “We’ve accumulated ideas on how to further improve our offerings, and we now have the ability to bring those from research and development to manufacturing and sales.” Mechatronics will unveil a prototype of its reagent processing unit at the MEDICA 2014 trade fair in Germany next month. The breakthrough equipment allows for the processing of reagents in concentrated form, thereby simplifying logistics and reducing costs. The company is also upgrading its ESR analysers to minimise the footprint and to fit into the total lab automation development. Eager to share these benefits with Asia, Mechatronics is eyeing market opportunities, especially in Singapore and China. “Trust is very important to us,” Buis says. “We need to be able to work with local distributors who share our philosophy.”
AVG Technologies defends internet users against personal online threats The need for online security continues to extend from the personal computer to any connected device, putting sensitive information at greater risk. AVG Technologies addresses online threats to individual internet users with forward-thinking, personalised security solutions. “Our target is to be known as the online security company that makes people’s connected lives safe,” says John Little, chief financial officer. “We think about devices, data and people because we are trying to protect the person using the internet.” AVG protects 182 million active users who rely on products from the company’s broad portfolio across devices and user segments. Among the latest of these products is AVG Zen, which debuted in March as a free-to-download application that
Our target is to be known as the online security company that makes people’s connected lives safe John Little Chief financial officer
allows users to manage their online security across multiple devices from a single device. AVG Zen makes it easy for users to find and implement security solutions that suit their individual needs. “The technology is something we’ve been doing since the early 1990s, in terms of making sure that we detect all possible data security threats,” Little says. “It’s something that we do very well, and it’s a constant evolution to make sure that these threats are being addressed.” As this need continues to evolve alongside advances in technology, AVG has established partnerships that enable it to offer its protection services to more internet users. Partners such as Qualcomm in the United States and Samsung in South Korea value the strong AVG brand, which has become one of the world’s leading names in online security. In line with its global strategy, AVG seeks distribution partnerships across the region and welcomes institutional and retail investors as it aims to provide its personalised online security to more users in Asia.
one common goal: to bring these commodities from the mines or the factories closer to where they will be subjected to further downstream production and manufacturing activities – a business which has increasingly shifted eastward in the last 20 years. Steinweg’s strong regional presence can be seen as a reflection of the growing importance of China and other countries in Asia and its insatiable appetite for a large number of commodities. Steinweg’s success in China is no coincidence. “The Dutch entrepreneurial spirit combines well with that of the Chinese. The Chinese employees of Steinweg in cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou, to name a few, practice the levels of reliability, confidentiality and neutrality that Steinweg is known for all over the world. These are especially appreciated in China and its expanding economy,” Boll says. Steinweg serves as a good example of a foreign company that really feels at home in China.
Delta Electronics fosters smarter and greener world When visionary Bruce Cheng established Delta Electronics in 1971, he envisioned a world-class company that would be instrumental in pursuing environmental conservation. By delivering innovative technology with the highest possible standards of energy conversion efficiency, Cheng’s vision has come to fruition. Delta Electronics is among the leading experts in providing cleaner and energy-efficient solutions. Putting intense focus on research and development (R&D), Delta develops innovative products under the business areas of power electronics, energy
Jackie Chang, president and general manager, Delta EMEA and Russia operations
management and smart green life. With global headquarters in Taiwan, the company boasts an extensive footprint across Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Delta’s Amsterdam regional headquarters supports and co-ordinates different resources across EMEA. Complementing the efforts of its counterparts in the group, Delta EMEA is putting greater emphasis on industrial automation, health care, electric vehicle applications and internet-related solutions. “We are integrated in the region to see which areas Delta can help customers grow,” says Jackie Chang, president and general manager, Delta EMEA and Russia operations. The company leverages its widespread presence to take technologies in mature markets to emerging markets and vice versa. In total, eight R&D centres are set up in the EMEA region to customise products that meet the specific requirements of the market and to transfer the experience of developing advanced products back to Asia. Committed to changing the way people manage and consume energy, Delta takes the lead in delivering energy-efficient best practices globally. Through Delta Electronics Foundation, the company ensures that the next generation will be equipped to carry on Delta’s ecological initiatives. In line with this, the foundation sponsors students from Taiwan to study environment conservation-related subjects in Britain or the Netherlands. “We do not require them to work in Delta. We want them to study abroad and learn the vast technologies they can bring back to and spread in Taiwan,” Chang says.
Tanatex opens Asian facility for sustainable textile processing A one-stop shop for the textile processing industry, Tanatex Chemicals makes eco-friendly solutions economically sensible throughout the global value chain. The company is behind functionalities as diverse as fluorine-free water repellency, thermo-regulation of skin temperature, cosmetic finishes and flame retardant solutions in apparel and technical textiles. It provides such product-level innovations from preparing the fabric for dyeing, into the colouration stage and on to the final processes where fabrics are given the required aesthetic effects. “We give the solution to our customers by delivering a concept,” says Marco de Koning, CEO of Tanatex. “We often take their material into our laboratories to
develop the particular effect they want to produce with a certain fabric.” A mid-sized multinational renowned for its expertise in mineral technology, Tanatex stays close to textile mills, apparel retailers and the automotive industry in order to create customised solutions. Also the market leader in chromojet printing of carpets, the company has sales offices worldwide with on-site technical service capabilities to rapidly respond to customers’ needs. Tanatex is bringing sustainable solutions closer to Asian customers through a newly opened facility in Thailand, which complements the main production facility in Ede, the Netherlands. “Time-to-market and flexibility
are crucial in this business,” De Koning says. “Our investment in this production facility builds up the possibilities for Asian customers by providing them high-quality products at the right time, with excellent technical service.” Such possibilities include nextgeneration Noveco products, which showcase Tanatex’s advanced mineral technology. Harnessing the cleansing qualities of clay, Noveco offers efficient processing while eliminating hazardous pollutants in the wastewater discharge. Another company innovation is one-bath fabric dyeing that radically cuts water usage during production. “We continually improve our products to address the environmental concerns of our customers,” says Simon Collinson,
Marco de Koning, CEO
Tanatex’s regional general manager for Asia-Pacific. “We have to bring along the products that can help our customers reduce water, energy and effluent levels. This is the main challenge nowadays.”
S4 Friday, October 24, 2014
SPECIAL REPORT: NETHERLANDS COUNTRY REPORT
Loyens & Loeff paves legal, tax gateway to Benelux investments
P Thierry Lohest, corporate partner
oised for dynamic growth, strategically located and equipped with a competitive tax system, the Netherlands offers foreign investors promising opportunities to diversify their portfolio. Success, however, lies in the seamless navigation of the market’s legal and tax landscape – and partnering with the right expert is key. “This is particularly true for Asian investors, who greatly value trust and long-term relationships,” says Willem Jarigsma, managing partner at Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam, the leading Benelux firm integrating legal and tax advisory services. “Loyens & Loeff is the natural legal and tax partner of choice for investors looking to do business in or from the
Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.” The pioneer behind the concept of “tax lawyers”, Loyens & Loeff is the second-largest continental firm in Europe, with more than 900 advisers to industries ranging from automotive to energy, investment management, real estate and health care. The firm has been active in Asia for more than 40 years, with offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong – where it also services clients from the mainland. “We are thrilled to see a rising trend in mainland investors using Hong Kong as a gateway to Benelux and the rest of Europe,” says tax partner Carola van den Bruinhorst, who founded the Hong Kong office nearly three years ago, together with corporate partner Thierry Lohest
Saxion instils global mindset, critical thinking in students Globalisation has opened up opportunities for university graduates and encouraged competition among the world’s top talents. Responding to the demand for graduates with a global mindset, Saxion University of Applied Sciences is equipping its
Wim Boomkamp, president
students with professional competencies oriented towards a global environment. Tracing its roots back to 1875, Saxion was formed in 1998 from a merger between two Dutch universities. The institution has since played a crucial role in bridging academic research with real-world applications through its innovative solutions. “What characterises Saxion as a university of applied sciences is how society can use the solutions we come up with for innovation – that starts with our research,” says Wim Boomkamp, Saxion’s president. “Our programmes and competencies for students are also internationally oriented because we recognise how globalisation is happening so quickly.” Developing programmes such as engineering for cutting-edge innovations, Saxion considers its quality of education as a key success factor. With a strategy for operating worldwide, the university is seeking
academic partners for joint programmes and other collaborative endeavours. The Living Lab in China, for example, is Saxion’s hospitalityfocused educational partner where students actively engage in problem-solving. To cater to international students, a large portion of whom come from Asian countries such as Taiwan and South Korea, Saxion conducts a number of courses in English. It nurtures a proactive workplace attitude, emphasises a career-oriented education and strives to instil critical-thinking skills in its foreign students to prepare them as they join the talent pool back home. “If you want to make a difference in the world, come and study with us,” says Chris van den Borne, director of Saxion’s international office. “You will get an education that is focused on solving problems, creating innovations, honing your entrepreneurial skills – and we’ll find you a way in the world.”
from Luxembourg. “We look forward to further raising awareness of how Loyens & Loeff can help Chinese and Asian businesses prosper overseas.” Loyens & Loeff reinforces this commitment by organising regular educational seminars in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai that feature timely legal and tax-related topics and the advantages and opportunities of investing in the Netherlands and internationally. “From world-class transportation to logistics, talent and culture, the Netherlands offers investors a favourable, conducive climate to grow to their full potential,” Jarigsma says. “Clients can count on Loyens & Loeff for pragmatic, customised and innovative solutions that address the demands of their domestic and global businesses.”
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Maats intensifies role in pipeline industry From landlocked terrain to archipelagos, Maats Pipeline Equipment has been shipping its high-end machines anywhere they are needed. A leading rental company for the global pipeline industry, it manufactures and supplies high-quality side booms, welding tractors and pipe benders to a global clientele mainly in Russia, Canada and markets in Europe and Southeast Asia. The Netherlands-based company became the exclusive distribution partner of German company Liebherr in 1994. Being the first to market side booms with a full hydrostatic drive system and integrated rollover protection system, it continues to design and manufacture equipment under the Liebherr brand. This collaborative approach is also
Carola van den Bruinhorst, tax partner
UNIT45 launches intermodal transport improvements As worldwide demand increases across high-performance sectors such as information technology, energy and raw materials, the global logistics industry faces mounting pressure to develop forward-thinking systems in storage, transshipment and auxiliary cargo services. In the Netherlands, a container development company has carved a niche in delivering inventive solutions that cater to the rapidly changing needs of intercontinental trade. UNIT45 specialises in customisable, multipurpose 45-foot containers that adhere to international specifications and EU regulatory demands for optimised cargo capacity. The 45-foot container concept reflects the company’s expertise in addressing logistical hindrances to business, solving the dimensional limitations of traditional 20- to 40-foot storage boxes and the fragile construction of standard freight containers.
Gerben Wansink, CEO
evident in its dealings with contractors no matter the location. “In case of problems, we can modify or adapt our units,” says CEO Gerben Wansink. “Our main focus is to get our customers the unit that is fit for the work, and we stay working with them for as long as the project runs, providing service in spare parts, mechanics and training.” Russia remains the biggest market for Maats as it continues to maintain its strength in Asia and Europe. It is building its foothold in Southeast Asia through forays into Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar amid an increasing number of companies doing offshore drilling in the area. “In Asia, we have lesser-known companies that are starting up in the pipeline industry, which is great,” Wansink says. “They don’t want to directly buy this equipment, so for us as a rental and sales company, that’s good. At the moment, it’s great to be in Asia.” The company, founded in 1981 by marine engineer Wilhelm Maats, maintains a positive outlook for Asia over the next five years. Offshore pipes will come ashore in the upcoming years, and the company sees tremendous opportunities working with more customers, particularly pipeline contractors focused on the region. “We are here to make sure our clients work safely with the latest pipeline technology and as quickly as possible,” Wansink says.
Hotraco bolsters food productivity with agricultural technologies Jan Koolen, managing director “We are intermodal innovators,” says Jan Koolen, managing director. “Because a container can go over water, rail or road, we specialise in multimodal transport developments particularly in the road transport business.” The company patented an 800-litre diesel-electric reefer unit designed to protect temperaturesensitive products such as electronics and pharmaceuticals during long journeys. Completely temperature-controlled, the unit is a cost-effective transport option available at a quarter of the price of conventional airfreight shipping. A passive refrigeration system, which minimises product spoilage and weight loss by significantly reducing air flow, is also in development. As the new silk route connecting Asia and Europe presents further trade possibilities between the company and the mainland, Koolen reflects on UNIT45’s long-term, relationship-centred approach to business. “We work like partners. If you treat clients and suppliers in a way that everybody gains a little bit, you’ll succeed,” Koolen says. “We’re in a reasonably small and highly specialised market. We always have a partner arrangement with our suppliers, who tell their clients ‘you have to go to UNIT45’. That’s how we operate, and why we’re performing very well.”
A pioneer of control technologies for the Dutch agricultural sector since the 1970s, Hotraco Group celebrates 40 years at the helm of system integration expertise with its eye on Asia’s growing agricultural and horticultural industries. “Electronics is our core competence, and we probably have the most robust systems worldwide for varied applications,” says Diederik Fetter, CEO. “In terms of root crop storage and livestock, Asia is increasingly becoming an important market for us.” With the need for food security growing in China and Asia, Hotraco’s agricultural technologies offer solutions ranging from automated temperature, humidity and ventilation controls to automated feeding systems in poultry and pig houses. The company’s innovative
Diederik Fetter, CEO
technologies include the Weight Watcher system, a telecommunication-enabled weighing scale which screens potato weight reduction as it happens. An interactive swipeenabled display called the Hotraco Agri Fortica is another invention, allowing users to control the climate at a touch. “We always push ahead and integrate available technologies into our customer-tailored solutions,” Fetter says. With 20 per cent of revenue coming from Asia, Hotraco maintains a strong foothold on the mainland through Mooij Agro, its business in potato storage solutions. A second subsidiary, Hotraco Agriculture Systems Beijing, opened last year, supplying livestock ventilation and barn automation systems. Hotraco is also present in countries such as South Korea through distributorships, and will be bringing solutions in potato storage and livestock management to India. As Hotraco sets its sights on Asian expansion, the company is committed to growing its presence on the mainland through the addition of on-the-ground technical service teams and plans for local manufacturing facilities. “We are looking towards Asia not just for sales, but also for intellectual exchange opportunities,” Fetter says. “We’re collaborating with Taiwanese companies, and similar technological partnerships with other Asian countries will allow us to include products in our worldwide portfolio.”
Assembléon advances work in surface-mount technology Acknowledged as the pioneer surface-mount technology (SMT) equipment manufacturer, Assembléon has maintained a solid footing in more than 30 years of operations amid challenging market conditions. Key to this resilience is a strategy of mapping the supply chain and finding niches that see value to its cutting-edge surface-mount pick and place solutions. “We cater to pockets in the electronics market where we can really add value,” says CEO Jeroen de Groot. “We are now focused on high-end SMT and semiconductor back-end manufacturing.” Assembléon emerged as an independent entity three years ago after growing into a reliable industry player as a unit of Philips Electronics Netherlands. Driven by research and innovation, the company’s portfolio has expanded to comprise three product ranges: iFlex, Hybrid and Flexline – all acclaimed for their high quality and precision with a remarkably low number of placement defects. Assembléon machines are also renowned for their high speed, modular and future-proof design, energy efficiency and scalability. In support of its integrated approach to SMT assembly, Assembléon has built a global sales and support organisation that offers training, tools and services to ensure
optimum operation of its equipment. The company has a presence in major electronic manufacturing regions, with offices in the Netherlands, the United States, Singapore and China. Through its established application support centres in Shenzhen, Suzhou and Hong Kong, Assembléon better serves its increasing Chinese clientele. The company is also seeing high growth potential in other Asian
Jeroen de Groot, CEO
markets, including South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. “We aim to help our Asian clients realise the full potential of what they could achieve with our technology – that we can combine high-volume production with very high quality and accuracy,” de Groot says. “We’re also keen on strengthening our ties with universities, research groups and government bodies in the region.”
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SKIM to expand global footprint with flagship Asian office
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Robin de Rooij, new venture director for Singapore
nternational market research agency SKIM celebrated 35 years of continued growth this year, a major milestone in an industry going through many challenges and developments. Yet another milestone is on the horizon for the Rotterdam-based company, with the planned opening of its flagship Asian office in Singapore in January next year. “Going to Asia is the next big step for us,” says Robin de Rooij, new venture director for Singapore. “The timing is perfect to establish a direct presence in the region, with increasing demand from our existing multinational company [MNC] clients who are seeking to uncover market opportunities in Asia’s high-growth economies through advanced research.” SKIM’s founder and chairman, Dirk Huisman, spearheaded the company’s transformation into a premier choice behaviour expert now trusted by high-profile clients such as Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Bayer and Ericsson. With offices throughout Europe, the United States and Latin America, SKIM is globally oriented and fulfils requirements of businesses with multicountry operations. “We are positioned as a specialist supplier
to key MNCs in pricing and product communications,” Huisman says. “With our expertise, we are helping our clients accomplish more.” Combining its knowledge of conjoint analysis and other advanced research methodologies with its industry-specific expertise, SKIM provides strategic guidance on pricing and portfolio management, product communication and innovation. Its core areas of practice encompass the consumer packaged goods, health care, consumer health, telecommunications, technology and financial services industries. Prominent international market research agencies and consultancy firms also rely on SKIM for its quantitative and qualitative research services. Seeing huge growth potential in Asia, SKIM believes opening additional offices, particularly on the mainland, is a definite consideration. “Finding local partners with in-depth knowledge of the culture, language and socio-economic reality is vital as we foray further into Asia,” Huisman says. “With their help, we will be able to ask the right questions and effectively solve issues affecting an organisation’s performance, growth or opportunity.”
Dirk Huisman, founder and chairman
Stopaq blocks corrosion, seals business success Corrosion may cause billions of dollars in damages every year. Guaranteeing 60 years of service life for external corrosion-free pipelines and field joints, Stopaq developed and patented a range of self-healing visco-elastic product solutions for use in corrosion prevention, sealing and insulation applications. “We guarantee for life,” says J.F. Doddema, managing director. “We provide excellent service to ensure our products will work for the duration of the design life of the pipeline.” Saudi Arabia’s oil company Saudi Aramco uses Stopaq’s bestin-class technology. Located in the harshest and most aggressive chemical environment in the world, the largest exporter of crude oil and natural liquids trusts Stopaq to effectively protect and insulate its
J.F. Doddema, managing director
pipelines and subsea piles. Stopaq has also qualified to support 4,000km of the West-East pipeline from Urumqi to Beijing. Major oil companies such as Shell, Total and PetroChina use Stopaq’s self-healing coating for its special non-curing, fluid-phase properties which offer flexible, non-toxic and non-polluting advantages. Stopaq’s non-curing sealant blocks oxygen, water vapour and electricity while eliminating delamination, cathodic disbondment and osmosis issues. It is remarkably chemical- and heat-resistant, making it easier to apply in the field without need for special equipment or highly skilled manpower. Creating value-added innovations, Stopaq is working on corrosion monitoring systems using
Leading postal conglomerate helps Asian businesses to enter European market Asian businesses entering Europe can rely on one of the world’s largest postal network conglomerates. Spring Global Mail specialises in moving lightweight goods such as electronic devices, clothing and other products purchased online across borders into Europe through the Netherlands’ PostNL and Britain’s Royal Mail. The company is dedicated to finding innovative solutions in different global markets, particularly for electronic commerce in Asia. “To think global and act local is very important,” says Tijs Reumerman, CEO. “We have people on the ground with local knowledge and can advise our customers in Asia on how to address European markets.” Spring Global Mail has a fixed network in 11 European countries that enables it to reach all of Europe and the United States. This network includes key gateways in London,
Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Providing customers with direct routes into European postal systems, the company complements its network with a flexible sales team that can guide Asian companies in doing business in each country in Europe. Having worked for more than 10 years in Asia, Spring Global Mail has key offices in Hong Kong and
Within the postal, parcel and logistical industry, we’re the responsible entrepreneurs Mark Eldridge Director for sales and marketing
Singapore from which it can offer customers quicker transit times to Europe. Its cost-effective quality service assures customers that their products are well-tracked via transparent information technology systems. Spring Global Mail works with several partners in Asia and invites more strategic partnerships in the region with electronic commerce or logistics companies able to access end customers. Apart from a clear strategy for going into Europe, its partners must have a wellestablished brand with values that align with the company’s principles of responsible entrepreneurship. “We have a creative mind, and we will do anything for the customer in a responsible and sustainable way,” says Mark Eldridge, director for sales and marketing. “Within the postal, parcel and logistical industry, we’re the responsible entrepreneurs.”
Inholland University cultivates business sense and creative flair Dutch institute Inholland University of Applied Sciences keeps one step ahead of the curve as a provider of competitive, world-class education. With the number of international students pursuing higher education forecast to reach more than 212 million by 2035, Inholland has opened an international college in
Willem Viets, international co-operation director and dean of the international college
Amsterdam, featuring a cutting-edge business innovation programme that was launched last month. “The world of business has changed dramatically,” says Willem Viets, international co-operation director and dean of the international college. “There is huge demand among companies for workers who can constantly improve and develop products and services. Our programme addresses that need.” Unlike traditional business management courses, Inholland’s international business innovation studies programme merges two seeming opposites: business knowhow, and discovery and delivery skills. The programme enables students to convert ideas into products within a hands-on, crosscultural environment, mirroring the global setting of working in multinational corporations. The university has eight campuses across the Randstad and a comprehensive portfolio of study programmes. Internationally, it specialises in business innovation, agriculture, information technology and aeronautical engineering. With
32,000 students representing 110 nationalities, and 2,000 students in six international study programmes, Inholland has a strong, globally oriented industry focus. The university values turning knowledge into employment by emphasising a practical approach to education. Maintaining an extensive network of industry partners and strong institutional ties with other international universities, Inholland welcomes partnerships in Asia. As an example, Inholland collaborates with the Agricultural University of Hebei in Baoding and Shanghai Normal University on a “2+2” degree programme in horticultural studies, where students spend two years of study in China and the rest in the Netherlands to gain hands-on learning and work experience. “We see more possibilities for co-operation rather than competition. It’s crucial to create a knowledge network with different partners and develop along the lines of content and quality,” Viets says. “Asia is the hub of dynamic developments, and it would be great to build further relationships there.”
sensor technology. Corrosion detectors are fused into coatings and can be monitored via mobile phones, reducing the need for costly on-site inspections. “Considering the carbon footprint, we have the most economical anti-corrosion product,” Doddema says. Replicating its success in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, Stopaq is investing heavily in China and empowering its local staff to continue nurturing relationships while fostering joint ventures and distribution partnerships in Asia. It is pushing its home, or “do-ityourself”, product line in the region to expand its markets. “There is no better product to protect pipes, joints and cables from corrosion,” Doddema says. “Do it right, do it once with Stopaq.”
State-of-the-art rudders take operational cost on desired course Imagine the 121-storey Shanghai Tower without elevators. This analogy applies to rudders in ships. Brilliant design efforts resulting in new hull designs are leading to the fast economical retirement of existing fleets of ocean-going vessels. Only those equipped with the smartest manoeuvring and propulsion systems can defy a similar fate. Rudders, in particular, are a vital yet often overlooked factor in operating vessels profitably. “Remarkably, most rudders are selected based on resistance tests at a zero-degree angle, at which they have no function at all. In real life, the rudder may be in this position frequently, but certainly not for a significant amount of the time,” says Paul van Maanen, managing director of Van der Velden Marine Systems. Because winds and currents require continuous steering, resistance – hence fuel consumption – quickly accelerates compared to the “useless” zero lift position. “Our organically shaped asymmetric Espac rudder would add less than 0.2 per cent to the total investment. Apart from providing better manoeuvrability and less cavitation, it improves fuel efficiency by as much as 5 per cent compared with rudders typically used in the
newest-generation vessels,” van Maanen says. The even larger benefits compared to more traditional designs create a massive retrofit potential for owners willing to stay afloat in the fierce battle for lower fuel costs. “Without engineering for rudders’ true function and merely qualifying for class requirements, the industry is unnecessarily compromising safety and efficiency,” van Maanen says. “Van der Velden aspires to help raise these standards and create more awareness in the market.”
Without engineering for rudders’ true function and merely qualifying for class requirements, the industry is unnecessarily compromising safety and efficiency Paul van Maanen Managing director
Van der Velden, which joined the Damen Shipyards Group last year, is also equipping several ultralarge vessels being built in Asia with rudders that have built-in sensors, providing real-time drag and lift status notification. “Imagine the benefits of passing the Suez Canal with 18,000 containers – a mind-blowing manoeuvre – with a rudder that takes away guesswork,” van Maanen says. “We look forward to more innovations and partnerships with industry leaders and decision makers towards a safer, more efficient maritime future.”
Paul van Maanen, managing director Tijs Reumerman, CEO
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VOSTA LMG fuses European quality, Asian client-building approach
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OSTA LMG, a worldrenowned engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company serving the dredging industry, looks confidently ahead more than a year after being acquired by Singapore-based ASL Marine Holdings. The merger, which came after many successful years of co-operation between the two companies, brings in synergies on several operational aspects. ASL is an integrated marine services group whose core strengths are shipbuilding, repair and conversion, and ship chartering. “With our historic European roots and our new Asia-based parent company, more opportunities are opening up for VOSTA LMG,” says Kai Yuen, managing director. “We will continue to leverage our heritage of quality and revolutionary engineering. This remains at the core of the company. As reinforcement, we will adopt the Asian way of client-
building, which is more grounded on trust and geared at creating longterm relations.” Celebrating over 140 years of innovation, VOSTA LMG delivers a comprehensive range of dredging installations, from engineering package to custom-made dredging solutions and turnkey self-propelled and stationary dredgers. Operating without an owned shipyard allows the company to be flexible and more adaptable to client preferences, in terms of price, quality and delivery. VOSTA LMG has completed countless dredging projects around the world in close collaboration with a global network of suppliers, local contractors and partner shipyards. “We provide solutions and work with our customers to add benefits and value for their end users,” Yuen says. VOSTA LMG has emerged as a preferred partner of choice for supplying dredge component packages or overseeing the entire process of dredge building from start
to finish anywhere in the world. Because of its excellent technical know-how and vast experience, the company is also an established name in the conversion, refitting, upgrade and maintenance of existing dredgers. Operating in a highly capitalintensive sector, VOSTA LMG has established joint ventures to help scale down costs and hasten development of front-line solutions that satisfy evolving market requirements. The company has tieups with companies in China and the Middle East. It also has existing cooperation agreements covering India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Europe and the United States. “We are looking to bolster the procurement and construction side of our business in Asia by broadening our customer base and forging closer and more strategic alliances with vessel builders and civil contractors,” Yuen says. “Through these collaborations, we will
become the most valued partner for our customers, providing them with a complete range of innovative dredging solutions.”
Kai Yuen, managing director
APH Omnivent aids food security through potato-inspired inventions Of the 350 million tonnes of potatoes consumed globally every year, the Netherlands is responsible for the largest potato yield per acre in the world. Dutch ventilation and air conditioning specialist APH Omnivent reveals that the simple root crop has inspired the company to develop technologies capable of automated control over environmental variables influencing food yield and loss. “Our success lies in our knowledge of potatoes, and that has given us a special market niche,” says Luuk Salomons, director. “It’s the philosophy embedded in our fans, climate computers and humidification systems which keep agricultural products in good condition.” APH Omnivent’s progressive efforts to optimise potato storage have generated agricultural technologies supporting environmental sustainability and reduced energy consumption.
Luuk Salomons, director The company’s latest product, OmniCuro, is a state-of-the-art storage management system application accessible via tablet, smartphone or computer. The application allows control over
climate conditions such as temperature, air humidity and carbon dioxide from anywhere in the world. Other cutting-edge APH Omnivent technologies include Omnibreeze, a humidification unit
that reduces potato water loss, and Omnirecap, an air treatment unit using natural propane gas instead of Freon as a cooling agent. “About 30 per cent of worldwide food production is lost annually. But with good logistic and storage systems, global crop yield can improve by at least 10 to 15 per cent,” Salomons says. “We want to achieve that improvement through investments in our technologies.” APH Omnivent is present across Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh and maintains its foothold in China through a partnership with Beijingbased APH. As the mainland plans for a robust agricultural sector over the next few years, the company aspires to establish production facilities through joint ventures. “We want to be involved with our production partners in meeting the highest standards. We are consultants first, and the knowledge we bring to the market is what matters,” Salomons says.
Bouwinvest signals opportune time for residential investments
Dick van Hal, CEO
Timing is right for residential investments in the Netherlands, with an increasing housing shortage and labour mobility fuelling demand for rental homes. Liberalisation in the Dutch rental market also boosts long-term prospects for institutional investors’ European mandates. “The advantage of the Netherlands is that it’s an investable area with growth opportunities,” says Dick van Hal, CEO of Bouwinvest. “The best opportunity for foreign investors is the residential market, which is clearly growing and has a good price-earnings ratio.” Bouwinvest is among the largest real estate investment firms in the Netherlands, with €6.1 billion (HK$60.5 billion) assets under management. Executing a low-risk, stable return
strategy, it invests on behalf of the Dutch construction industry’s pension fund. Its Dutch core sector funds include residential, retail and office funds that are open to foreign investors. With good return-risk profiles, these unleveraged property funds have consistently outperformed the IPD Netherlands Annual Property Index since 2010. More than 80 per cent of Bouwinvest’s Dutch properties are in growing urban regions and within the liberalised rental segment. Valued at about €2.6 billion, its 224 residential properties posted an average occupancy rate of 96.4 per cent last year. “We have positions in the attractive regions such as Amsterdam, the Hague and Utrecht,
and can source a pipeline from developers and building companies with the best specifications we need for the future,” van Hal says. A long-term investor, Bouwinvest also has about €2 billion spread across mature, transparent and low-risk markets in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific. It is eyeing long-term partnerships in Asia with established fund managers that have a clear governance structure and a low-risk investment strategy. “We work together with like-minded managers in every region because real estate is a local business,” van Hal says. “We have in-depth knowledge of the Dutch market, so we are a good partner for pension funds investing in the Netherlands.”
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HLB guides Asian family businesses into Europe As the gateway to Europe, the Netherlands offers distinct advantages for investors willing to partake in the region’s economic recovery. Strategically located at the centre of Europe’s largest economies, the Netherlands covers about 250 million consumers within 965km. Among the country’s strongest attractions for foreign interest, however, is its favourable tax system – an area HLB Van Daal & Partners knows extensively. Drawing on its global network and vast Asian experience, the accounting and tax consulting firm offers comprehensive business support to Asian family businesses investing in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. “We nurture close relationships with families and understand their businesses,” says Erik van der Haar, partner and managing director. “We can outline the risks and issues they’ll likely meet in Europe.” Leveraging its extensive contacts in the Netherlands, HLB Van Daal & Partners offers small- and mediumsized enterprises various services.
Awareness of our clients’ local issues makes us truly global in reach and local in touch Erik van der Haar Partner and managing director
Outside its core competency in accounting and international tax advisory, the company also assists foreign investors in finding appropriate partners, setting up subsidiaries, raising funds and advising on mergers and acquisitions, among others. “Our solutions are not standardised,” Van der Haar says. “We get to know our clients and their business first before we develop special solutions for them.” The company does this with the help of HLB International’s global network. Ranking among the top 10 international groups of accounting firms and business advisers in China, HLB International was one of the first international accounting networks to enter the country in the 1980s. Today, it boasts more than 500 offices across more than 110 countries. The group complements this global network with seasoned country specialists. “We are a specialist on China and Southeast Asia,” Van der Haar says. “Awareness of our clients’ local issues makes us truly global in reach and local in touch.”
Long-term partnerships bring growth to Broekman Logistics Putting a premium on long-term personal relationships with clients and partners has catapulted Broekman Logistics to the esteemed circle of leading shipping and logistics providers in Europe. Through time-tested partnerships, Broekman has access to a global network that enables it to handle goods and cargo from anywhere worldwide. “One translation of Broekman in Chinese means ‘man with a longterm vision, valuing partnerships’. This is what the company stands for and it is embedded in our organisation,” says Albert Hoek, managing director. Broekman specialises in the logistics services of vehicles, steel and hazardous chemicals from Asia to northwest and central Europe. With tightening regulations in handling and storing hazardous cargo, Broekman intensified its focus on this segment to cater to European chemical companies with factories in Asia. One of the market leaders in the Netherlands when it comes to hazardous cargo, Broekman provides value-added services such as handling custom duties, unpacking, repacking and relabeling of products. About a quarter of a total of 260,000-square-metre Broekman area is reserved for chemical products. With chemical warehousing in the Port of Rotterdam
and a facility near the German border, Broekman is well-equipped to handle client requirements. Other focal areas for Broekman are steel and break bulk cargo. The company has a dedicated steel terminal to handle various steel products. Broekman also aims to put greater emphasis on truck-motive parts as more companies, particularly from the mainland, export to Europe. To ensure seamless service delivery, Broekman operates with
fully owned offices in key locations in India and Singapore and a representative office in Shanghai. The company has been co-operating with Chinese agents and logistics companies for more than 20 years to widen its reach. “We’re a company with a global reach but with a personal touch. We understand the importance of relationships in cultures. As our relationships with our partners grow, so does our business,” says CEO Raymond Riemen.
Raymond Riemen, CEO
PP sustains great catch with sustainable fishing Safeguarding the well-being of the world’s population is the responsibility of every individual. Any effort to conserve natural resources for future generations is a worthy cause. A proponent of sustainable fishing, Parlevliet & Van der Plas (PP) fulfils its duty in helping preserve the environment with fishing methods that respect the ecosystem. “We play a role in feeding the world. We want to preserve the capital and only catch the interest,” says CEO Diederik Parlevliet. “We care for the environment to ensure that fish stocks continue to be productive. Sustainability and quality are important for the future of this industry.” Family-owned PP is a pelagic, demersal and shrimp fishing company renowned for its great respect for ecological balance. PP catches mackerel, herring, haddock, cod and halibut, among others. With
Diederik Parlevliet, CEO a fleet of more than 25 vessels, PP owns the world’s largest fishing vessel, the Annelies Ilena, which spans 144 metres by 24 metres. PP’s commitment to sustainability will continue to be crucial as food consumption grows directly
proportional with the population. According to a World Bank report, Asia will account for 70 per cent of the global fish consumption by 2030. Of this figure, China’s consumption represents 30 per cent. Alongside the growing seafood consumption in China, PP has also observed a greater demand for more expensive fish such as halibut and herring among China’s emerging middle class. With most of its products bearing a quality seal, PP is in a prime position to cater to China’s increasing interest in premium goods. Most of PP’s catch comes with an eco-label certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, an organisation developing standards for best practices in fishing and seafood traceability. “Travelling globally, the Chinese are tasting things they want to bring home. We’re hoping to cater to their new tastes in fish,” Parlevliet says.
Strong supplier relations drive Asian expansion of NEDIS A keen eye for innovation combined with a strong supply chain has positioned NEDIS, a member of the publicly quoted Swiss Datwyler Group, among Europe’s market leaders in consumer electronics and accessories. As a sourcing hub for a wide range of products, China has played an integral role in NEDIS’s success. It will continue to do so as NEDIS aims to double its business in the world’s manufacturing capital. NEDIS provides a variety of products within 12 product categories, including connectivity, energy, lighting, security and safety, and photo or audio. Through 50,000 online and offline resellers, NEDIS covers the whole European market and, together with its sister
companies, generates sales of more than US$500 million. Through its Hong Kong and Shenzhen offices, NEDIS scouts for cutting-edge products in Asia that it can market under one of its 10 product brands. Labels under NEDIS include high-end connectivity brand Profigold and competitively priced consumer electronics brands König and HQ. NEDIS has a 30-strong team in China that makes sure all products pass through rigorous quality control before they leave the country. Relying on its people in China to be its eyes and ears in the market, NEDIS does not buy products only for price but for quality and trust. The company is positioned as an attractive long-term
partner for Chinese suppliers that can function as their door to market their products. NEDIS maintains a state-of-theart warehouse capable of hosting 200,000 products and sending out up to 20,000 packages a day. Such capability adds value to NEDIS customers, allowing them to order until 4pm and still have the product the next day. For its suppliers, the advantage is that NEDIS can purchase significant volumes and then store and handle the products in the warehouse. NEDIS seeks new partnerships with suppliers who can offer interesting products as the company expands and builds stronger relationships in China.