As a result of new investments, the opening of new branches of foreign companies, the WestHolland region is 889 jobs richer. This, according to the annual report of the West Holland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA), the agency that on behalf of Municipalities, the Province and the Chamber of Commerce is responsible for attracting foreign investments to the region. Just as in 2011 the WFIA was responsible for brokering the opening of new branches and relocation of 40 foreign companies in West Holland.
The projects reported on in 2012 reflected a significantly higher growth expectation: 889 new jobs in 3 years. This is almost double the forecast in 2011, which then amounted to 482 jobs. At the start of 2012 the companies involved reported an expected employment growth of 168 jobs. For projects involving the redeployment of jobs, an additional 533 jobs were retained in the region.
‘‘This is another fantastic result of the WFIA," said Henk Kool, Hague alderman for Social Affairs, Employment and Economy.‘‘ It is very encouraging that more and more foreign companies, including Chinese companies, are opting to settle in The Hague: especially now, in times of economic hardship. It expresses confidence and that is good for our city and our economy. We will continue therefore in the coming years to further improving the business climate in The Hague.‘‘
In 32 of the 40 projects new foreign companies were attracted to the region. Seven projects were related to the expansion or relocation of an existing foreign company within the region. One project falls under the Matchmaking Program: The Russian investment fund Rusnano which is investing €40 million in the company Delft Mapper Lithography. WFIA was instrumental in bringing the parties together early in 2011.
More than half of the projects come from China and North America, priority countries for acquisition by the WFIA. In addition, a large proportion of the projects came from European countries such as the United Kingdom and Russia. Most projects are active in the IT & Telecom sector, followed by projects active in business services.
The WFIA also scored well in 2012 on a national level. The south wing, of which the West Holland region forms a part, accounted for a quarter of the results - in terms of employment - of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), the acquisition organization of the central government.
The Investor Relations Program
The largest share of the investments came from companies which already had a presence in the West Holland region. The Danish APM Terminals, part of the AP Møller-Mærsk Group, moved its headquarters in The Hague, from the Anna van Saksenlaan to the city center, and is joined at their new headquarters by their sister company DAMCO which has relocated from Copenhagen. Avery Dennison from the U.S. consolidated its activities in a new headquarters at the Leiden Bio Science Park and Tech Mahindra, part of the 10 largest conglomerates of India, is expanding its presence in The Hague.
According to Ms. Imanda Wapenaar, Managing Director of the WFIA "Not only is the acquisition of new foreign companies important for the economy, but retaining foreign companies when expanding, consolidating or relocating is also very important for the region‘s economy. This has become one of the core activities of the WFIA."
The Investor Relations program, initiated in 2008 by the WFIA together with the NFIA, the Province of South Holland and the municipalities in western Holland, provides contacts and facilitates relationships with foreign companies in the region. Furthermore, advice and assistance is provided to companies opening branches in the region. And, trends, signals and potential bottlenecks to a favorable business climate are shared with local and national authorities.
WestHolland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA)
The WFIA assists international companies in establishing, expanding or relocating their operations to West Holland. The WFIA was founded in 2000 by the cities of The Hague, Leiden, Delft and Zoetermeer and the Chamber of Commerce of The Hague and the Haaglanden. The municipality of Lansingerland joined in December 2008. The WFIA is also supported by the Province of South Holland.
Source www.westholland.nl
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