Wittenborg CEO Attends India-Netherlands Business Seminar

28.01.2024

Maggie Feng Reflects on India's Presence in the Netherlands

On 11 January, Maggie Feng, CEO of Wittenborg, attended the 'India-Netherlands Business Seminar: Opportunities for Cooperation in Innovation & Key Emerging Technologies' at the Marriott Hotel in The Hague.

Organised by the Embassy of India in the Netherlands, the seminar aimed to strengthen trade, investment, and business collaborations between India and the Netherlands, attracting over 125 participants, including government representatives, business leaders, academics, entrepreneurs and innovators.

The seminar focused on promoting business and investment, with a special emphasis on how innovation and new technologies could drive bilateral trade and investment, offering significant opportunities for enhanced collaboration between the two countries.

Diplomat Magazine reports that the Netherlands has emerged as India’s 11th largest merchandise trading partner globally and the largest in the European Union. Over 300 Indian companies have a presence in the Netherlands, with a similar number of Dutch companies established in India. The total merchandise trade during the F.Y. 2022-2023 stood at USD 27.580 billion, making the Netherlands India’s largest merchandise export destination in Europe.

H.E. Reenat Sandhu, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, highlighted investment opportunities in India, including the successful conclusion of India’s G20 Presidency and the Chandrayaan-3 moon landing. She encouraged Dutch companies to explore and expand their ventures in the dynamic Indian market.

Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, discussed India's biotech sector as a powerhouse of innovation and growth. He emphasised entrepreneurship development activities, suggesting ways to stimulate long-term research collaborations between India and the Netherlands.

Erwin Nijsse, Director General Business & Innovation, highlighted strong trade and investment synergies between India and the Netherlands. Speakers from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and Impact Hydrogen, including Hilde van der Meer, also addressed global challenges and Nienke Homan, CEO of Impact Hydrogen, shared her journey towards creating a Hydrogen Valley in Northern Netherlands.

While the seminar was both insightful and valuable on many levels, Feng later expressed that her personal highlight was the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of individuals.

"There are various start-ups from India now operating in the Netherlands, including Ariqt International and Indorama Ventures, to name a few. This was a great opportunity to speak to key stakeholders and network."

Feng is also impressed by the presence of foreign start-ups in the Netherlands. Her advice for future foreign start-ups in the country is insightful:

"A notable challenge lies in acclimatising to the working culture of the Netherlands – understanding their policies, HR practices, and employee welfare, where they are ahead in many aspects."

Wittenborg is set to delve deeper into these themes during its annual globalisation conference. For more details, visit our official globalisation hub.