Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Doing business in Bangladesh:
the Nyenrode Water & Agro-food Trade MissionSeptember 2013
Contact
Naomi SmeeleTrade & Investment OfficerNyenrode Business UniversiteitStraatweg 253621 BG BreukelenThe NetherlandsT (+31) 346M (+31) 6E [email protected], www.nyenrode.nl
Lisette BlümTrade AttachéNyenrode desk, Netherlands EmbassyNyenrode Business UniversiteitStraatweg 253621 BG BreukelenThe NetherlandsT (+880) 2 8822715-18M (+880) 1775779303E [email protected],[email protected]
Economic Affairs & TradeEmbassy of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsRoad 90, House 49Gulshan IIDhaka BangladeshT (+880) 2 8822 715-18F (+880) 2 8823 326E [email protected]
I think we had a very interesting program in Dhaka. And then on a day like this, we have the opportunity to go into the field, talk to farmers, see what is possible, and on top of that, meet with some many entrepreneurs to see where we can work together.
Ambasssador Gerben de Jong, Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka, on day 3 of the trade mission
4 days of matchmaking, networking,and sharing of ideas
In mid-September 2013, thirteen Dutch organisations joined a four-day trade mission to Dhaka in Bangladesh to explore business opportunities in the water and agro-food industries. The trade mission was co-organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka and Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.
The trade mission included matchmaking sessions, visits to the Board of Investment Bangladesh and to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries, explorations of water and agro-food business in Barisal and Gazipur, and a trade reception attended by representatives of government, research and education institutions, private sector, and civil society.
This mission is a key part of an ongoing partnership between the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka and Nyenrode University, and it is the first of a succession of trade missions that will be hosted both here in Bangladesh and in the Netherlands to stimulate sustainable business relations between these two countries.
BoP Innovation CenterNiek van DijkBusiness Developerwww.bopinc.org
Dr Ten BVGerrit MiedemaManaging Directorwww.drten.nl
Netherlands Commission for Environmental AsssessmentArend KolhoffSenior Technical Secretarywww.commissiemer.nl
FlexBaseJan Willem RoëlManaging Directorwww.flexbase.eu
Global Blue Delta FoundationYvon WolthiusManaging Director
LX ConsultMarco EygendaalManaging Directorwww.lxconsult.nl
Henk van den BergAreas Sales ManagerMPS – Aqua Industrial Watertreatmentwww.mps-aqua.nl
Netherlands Water PartnershipMartijn van StaverenProject Officer, Bangladeshwww.nwp.nl
Pelican Key Legal ConsultancyEric MeijerManaging Directorwww.pklc.com
Redox Water Technology BVErik Jan van BochoveArea Managerwww.redox-wt.nl
SimaviRuben KorevaarAsia Programme Managerwww.simavi.nl
Topsector Agri&Food InternationalSophie NeveProgramme on SMEs/Topsector Agri&Food International
Today, I had 25 architects in the embassy, and we did a presentation, and the architects were very positive to do this kind of project. Also some producers of EPS [expanded polystyrene] are involved now and want to have the Flexbase concept imported in Bangladesh. And we have some real estate developers that are also very interested. So in the mission that I was finding out if there was interesting things to do here, it’s now so far that I have really good contacts and who want to have the first Flexbase in Bangladesh.
Jan Willem RoëlManaging Director, FlexBase
Visiting delegation from the Netherlands
WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBERNyenrode introduction and program walk-through
Kick-off seminar, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Introduction to economic development & investment climate Bangladesh
Carel Richter, Head Economic Affairs and Development Cooperation
Development in the water and agriculture sectors, Bangladesh
Carel de Groot, First Secretary Water Management, Jan Willem Nibbering, First Secretary Food Security
Dutch business opportunities in development cooperation Blue Gold / FAO / IFC / Ide&ICCO / SaFal
Wrap up & conclusions
Matchmaking event
Informal lunch buffet
Welcome dinner at Ambassador’s residence
THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBERTour Board of Investment: Investment climate and doing
business
Lunch Seminar
Social enterprising in Bangladesh Social Business Institute
Investing in Bangladesh - practical information & key constraints
BUILD - Business Initiative Leading Development/DCCI/SME Foundation
Holland trade cocktail, networking reception
Informal dinner at Dutch Club
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBERTaste of Bangladesh Field Visits
Agro delegation, Bhola Project visits - Farmer organizations fish & vegetables
Taste of Bangladesh Field Visits Water delegation, Dhaka
DBL Textile Factory - framework IFC PaCT program
Possible follow-up bilateral meetings
SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBERCompany visit
Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority / VEI
Afternoon meetings with potential partners or projects
Farewell reception Hosted by Ambassador Gerben de Jong
Matchmaking plays a big part in this trade mission, as the participating Dutch companies want to know which companies in Bangladesh
are interested in doing business. So matchmaking and networking events are part of the
programme, but we also want to give them a taste of Bangladesh, so we have organised company visits and field vists, and we also helped them
network with government officials.
Naomi SmeeleNyenrode Business Universiteit
Delegation program schedule
Though still modest, trade relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands are growing. In 2012, the Netherlands, after Malaysia and the UK, was the third-largest investor to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and the Netherlands share much common ground in the fields of water and agriculture. The Netherlands has historically faced many water-related challenges and opportunities that Bangladesh now faces, and in this field, the Netherlands has expertise to contribute to the Bangladesh water scenario.
Both countries have agriculture as their backbone. The Netherlands is the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products after the
USA, and approximately two-thirds of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in agriculture.
While the water and agriculture sectors of Bangladesh have great potential, they also face the challenges of climate change, population growth, and urbanization. These challenges are opportunities for creativity, for innovation, and for cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands. Dutch knowledge and expertise can be excellent contributions to harnessing these opportunities, and they are opportunities to establish fruitful economic partnerships.
The Netherlands has been involved in the Bangladesh water sector for
decades. Between 2012 and 2015, the emphasis will be on sustainable and participatory water management, river management, drinking water, and sanitation.
Food security is a relatively new theme in the Netherlands worldwide development programme. In Bangladesh, emphasis in the following years will be on water management and food security, aquaculture and livestock farming, and setting up an effective setting control system for food security that will help improve public health and stimulate trade.
Why Water & Agro, and why now?
Two years ago, our government decided that the relationship with Bangladesh was not going to be only
through the development cooperation. The aim was to go from traditional aid to more responsible trade. So the private sector in this equation becomes very important. Nyenrode is an interesting partner to get
the private sector into our program because they have a huge network in the Netherlands, and it’s one of the
best business schools.
Carel Richter, Head Economic Affairs and Trade, Head Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands
Besides the business-to-business aspect of the trade mission, the Dutch and Bangladeshi companies have also been introduced to the development programs of the Embassy, and with their expertise, have been given the opportunity to enter into a business relationship that will positively contribute to issues such as food security. Commercial objectives are as such connected to promoting sustainability. The need for improved legislation, enforcement, and a greater responsibility of the private sector in stimulating responsible business is becoming increasingly important to the establishment of improved human well-being and social justice.
With a vibrant private sector driving innovation to solve tough challenges, stimulating sustainable and responsible
business is not only about corporate social responsibility (CSR). Business know that transitioning countries such as Bangladesh will be major markets and important partners in the future. Throughout this mission, the Dutch delegation was introduced to a broad array of potential business partners—these pioneers are now grabbing the opportunities that Bangladesh offers.
This trade mission to Bangladesh is the first of many. Nyenrode, together with the Embassy, will continue bringing the business communities of these two partner countries together. The sustainable growth model we hope to encourage, improving both industry competitiveness as well as environmental impact, is the business model for the future.
From aid to trade: background to the trade mission
Doing business in Bangladesh:
the Nyenrode Water & Agro-food Trade MissionSeptember 2013
Bangladesh & The Netherlands
Bangladesh and the Netherlands have maintained a warm relationship since the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. The Netherlands was one of the first nations to recognize Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, since its birth, has been among the world’s least-developed countries, though it has made incredible strides in reductions of extreme poverty, and it aims to be a middle-income country by the year 2021. In light of this ongoing change, the bilateral relationship between the two nations is shifting from traditional development aid to responsible
and sustainable trade and investment. Economic growth in Bangladesh is expected to lead to a sharper focus on economic cooperation, investment and trade promotion in the coming years.
Despite political turmoil and calamities that generally dominate any coverage of Bangladesh in news media, the country has achieved GDP growth of six to seven percent for the last several years. Its population is young, and its middle class is growing.
[2021]Bangladesh aims to be a middle-income country by the year 2021, the year of its fiftieth-anniversary
[6%]Remarkably,
Bangladesh has been able to maintain 6% GDP growth for the last several years
