Amsterdam Area Boosts Continuity of Business & Personal Relations with Japan
The trade delegation to Japan sent by Amsterdam and its regional partners created a huge positive impression on the companies and cities it visited, according to an interim report produced by the delegation on its return on 25 May.
Led by mayors Cohen (Amsterdam) and Van Zanen (Amstelveen), the trip served to create an important strengthening of the business contacts with Japanese companies who have a European operation in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
Japan-NL special relationship
Business and local government leaders in Japan were unanimous in highly valuing the special effort made by the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, especially in the current economic crisis, and the mission was seen as giving fresh impulse to the special relationship between Japan and the Netherlands.
On their visits to Nagasaki, Osaka and Tokyo the mission delegates made time to enjoy the cultural and economic ties between the two countries. In Nagasaki, the restored Dutch trading post on the island of Deshima that for nearly two centuries was Japan’s only contact with the West was visited.
Both countries are celebrating 400 years of trade relations this year and 150 years of diplomatic relations.
Mission’s busy schedule
The 45-member delegation consisted of local government leaders from Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Almere and Haarlemmermeer, along with board members of companies and institutions from these regional partners.
In just five days they met the boards of 25 Japanese multinationals, and gave presentations to 150 new companies during business seminars in Osaka and Tokyo. A presentation given in Tokyo by the Amsterdam Tourism & Congress Bureau (ATCB) on Amsterdam and its region as a tourist location was attended by around 100 Japanese tour operators.
Japanese companies consolidating activities
The conclusion from the factory visits and meetings with directors was that Japanese multinationals are initiating cost reductions, including restructuring and consolidation of their European operations, and that the Amsterdam region is well placed to profit from this consolidation.
On company visits and in seminars, the mission was able to quote new independent research by Ernst & Young that in comparison with London, Brussels and Düsseldorf, Amsterdam offered significant advantages and cost savings in areas such as housing, tax climate and social security. A number of businesses that had not previously expressed interest in moving to the Amsterdam region subsequently made inquiries into accommodation.
Loyal to investments in the Amsterdam Area
Another advantage is that the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area currently hosts more than 4,000 Japanese expats – the second largest community in Europe – who have access to Japanese medical care, Japanese shops, facilities and services.
For many years, Japan has been the biggest foreign investor in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area after the USA. Most of the almost 400 Japanese companies in the Netherlands are located in the Amsterdam Area, and in 2008 more than 10 new Japanese companies started operations in the Amsterdam Area.
The quality of life is a strong influencing factor on companies seeking to expand in the European market, and was emphasised by the trade mission.
Sending top people appreciated
The Japanese business community appreciated the high calibre of the delegation team members. As a result, the mayors, deputy mayors and directors from the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area were granted access to the decision making layers of the businesses they visited, and were able to instantly arrange meetings at the highest level of these companies.
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area delegates were particularly enthusiastic about their visits to the HQ of various carmakers. Japan is a world leader in the development of electric cars, and for a better idea of the latest developments in this field the delegates were allowed to test drive the new Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
