Growing share foreign investment projects from Asia

NFIA annual results for 2010

Press release | 16 March 2011 

The Dutch government's focus on attracting investments from Asian countries is paying off. This emerges from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency's (NFIA) annual results for 2010, which were presented by Minister for Foreign Trade Bleker on 16 March 2011. More than half (55 percent) of the 155 projects supported by the NFIA in 2010, originates from these region. Ten years ago this share amounted to 28 percent. 

After Asia most projects come from North America (32 percent). The remaining investments derive from Europe, the Middle East and South America. More than a quarter (27 percent) of the total number of projects comes from the United States, followed by South Korea and China. 

No record year

In 2010 jobs were won and retained for the Dutch economy. Still it was noticeable that the market was still recovering from the crisis. The total value of the 155 investment projects the NFIA was involved in amounted to 956 million Euros. These projects will result in 3,021 new jobs. For ten projects supported by the NFIA in 2010, the aim was retention of employment. With this the NFIA's efforts in 2010 resulted in a total number of 3,793 jobs. 

In 2010 the NFIA supported 155 foreign investment projects with a total investment value of € 956 million, resulting in 3,793 jobs. 

International connection

"An open economy offers advantages for the Netherlands. International trade and foreign investments are important pillars under Dutch prosperity," said Bleker. Some 6,000 foreign companies are currently active in the Netherlands. They provide jobs for 782,000 people and account for 30 percent of all investments in R&D. Foreign investors also provide a connection to international networks of knowledge and business activities, according to the Minister. "Increasingly they cooperate with foreign universities and associate companies. That provides opportunities for technological cooperation, potential markets for Dutch products and thus strengthens our export position." 

Headquarters

Together with the private sector and researchers this cabinet will boost nine priority regions of the Dutch economy with a dedicated approach. Part of this will be the acquisition of new international headquarters, because these often lead to follow-up investments in the country of residence. The share of international headquarters in the total number of NFIA projects grew in 2010 to 17 percent (9 percent in 2009), confirming the position of the Netherlands as a top location for international headquarters. Most international headquarter projects realized, concern European headquarters. More than half of those (12) comes from Asia, followed by North America and Europe. 

The NFIA is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. It engages itself in attracting foreign investments to the Netherlands in order to strengthen the Dutch economy. The NFIA is involved in a small part of the total flow of incoming foreign direct investments in the Netherlands. The total is registered by the Dutch National Bank (DNB). 

More information:
Ruud Stevens, spokesman Foreign Economic Relations
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
E: r.p.stevens@minez.nl       T: +31 6 461 52 406

Access the full report NFIA Results 2010