Netherlands to Intensify Trade with Western China
THE HAGUE, 15/05/13 - Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen wants to intensify existing trade and investment relations with Western China, she said after a trade mission to China representing 50 Dutch companies.
Ploumen was received by Mayor Ge Honglin of Chengdu (population: 16 million), and Governor Wei Hong of Sichuan province (population: 90 million). "It is unusual for ministers visiting China to be received by both the mayor and the governor; the presence of both dignitaries reflects the importance attached to the partnership," she concluded. Ploumen was joined at the meetings by the China regional directors of Shell, DSM, Philips, KLM and Akzo Nobel. Sichuan province is currently developing a high-tech zone. According to Ploumen, the mayor and governor both emphasised that the region will continue to offer opportunities for the Netherlands in the coming years and that every effort will be made to support Dutch businesses. Ploumen also opened a new Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Chengdu to expand the Netherlands’ presence in this part of China and to support Dutch businesses active there. The global network of 20 NBSOs - six of which are in China - supports enterprises wishing to do business abroad. In Shanghai, in the presence of 300 Chinese and Dutch business representatives, contracts were signed by Dutch shipping company Royal Wagenborg to construct a vessel. The National Aerospace Laboratory formed a technological partnership with China's biggest aircraft builder, Comac. And the medium-sized enterprise Jomec signed a joint venture to develop wind energy. A shortage of powdered milk in the Netherlands was one of the issues discussed in a meeting between foreign trade minister Lilianne Ploumen and Chinese import and export minister Zhi Shuping. "Powdered milk is in great demand in China and my Chinese colleague has asked the Netherlands to invest in production plants in his country. The Netherlands and China will remain in dialogue on this issue". |