HOTIAD
Speech by the Minister of Economic Affairs Mrs J.A. van der Hoeven about Dutch-Turkey business relations - HOTIAD, Maastricht 9 February 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Can I say first of all that I very much welcome the opportunity to join you today. Of course, I cannot but compliment you on your choice of venue. Maastricht is a city close to my heart. This is where I find my roots. Evidently, Maastricht took on special meaning in 1992, for me and many millions of fellow Europeans. The city represents a crucially important step in European integration. Though Lisbon is now a major competitor, 'Maastricht' still ranks as a very European city. I am sure this sense of place will add a special flavour to our meeting.
Dutch business relations with Turkey go back a long way. Over the centuries they have proven mutually rewarding. And there is more to come. The future looks bright. Business is expanding still, bringing plenty of trade and investment opportunity.
Members of HOTIAD daily contribute to the strong economic bond between Turkey and the Netherlands. Dutch businessmen with a Turkish background are among the most enterprising in our midst. Your zest for business is evident. And I applaud it.
Yet allow me to speak my mind about your position as a business group, your position in our Dutch society (yours and mine!). First and foremost, I consider HOTIAD members to be part of the overall Dutch business community. That is my message for today. It is my sincere wish for this message to have an impact. It is a message that touches upon values at the heart of this government's programme for society. We have chosen a simple motto: 'Working together, living together'. Simple, but all the more powerful for it.
I am keen to address you as ordinary members of the Dutch business community. Though, of course, you are at once ordinary and special. Let me explain.
By 'ordinary' I mean to say that your business interests coincide with those of the majority of Dutch entrepreneurs. Your objectives are one and the same. As part of my daily work I meet up with business delegates from a very wide field. It is what I enjoy most about my job. People differ in many ways, their backgrounds differ, but in my experience ordinary businessmen share a common purpose. In a bid for profit, they look for opportunities, they invest, they take on responsibility for their acts and often show a pioneering spirit. So don't get me wrong: you are ordinary in the best sense of the word.
There is another aspect to this. I would like to make an urgent appeal for HOTIAD to subscribe to Dutch employers' associations, for instance VNO-NCW. I fully respect the important role played by organisations like HOTIAD. Still, I think it is very important for you to be part of Dutch organisations that represent the common interests of the entire business community, not operating on the premises of a particular ethnic background, gender or other distinctive feature of their members.
Companies affiliated to VNO-NCW, for instance, cover more than 80% of the medium-sized businesses in the Netherlands. You have much to gain from participating and - vice versa - representative bodies such as VNO-NCW will benefit from welcoming you. You are an asset to the Dutch business community. That is an obvious fact, but it should become more visible.
As I said before, your position within the Dutch business community may be qualified as special as well. Special in the sense that you have special knowledge of the Turkish market. Special in the sense that you have a thorough understanding of Turkish culture. Special in the sense that you operate in business networks that are difficult to enter for those who do not speak the Turkish language. Your knowledge and expertise is indispensable to the Dutch business community.
Knowledge based on experience is to be cherished! It is very, very useful, both to companies that are not yet active in the Turkish market and to new entrepreneurs with a Turkish background. The latter group includes many 'new kids on the block', whose starting position is not always very easy.
Here I would like to refer to our effort to improve the situation in deprived inner-city areas. Young people need all the advice they can get. In a very practical sense, I would urge you to 'adopt' one of them. Just think of someone now, I am sure a name will spring to mind. (perhaps you are familiar with the Dutch Ondernemersklankbord and the international coaching scheme that goes under the name of PUM. These organisations stimulate veteran businessmen to advise young entrepreneurs abroad and help them establish successful businesses. You are most welcome to join in!).
I am also keen to stress the importance of education. Our Ministry of Education, Culture and Science cooperates with Turkish organisations in NIHA, the Netherlands Institute for Higher Education in Ankara. As Minister of Education, Culture and Science, I set up this institute in December 2006. NIHA aims to realise a joint educational programme.
A recent seminar, organised by the Ministry and attended by Ms Bijsterveldt, State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science, proved successful in furthering cooperation with Dutch educational institutes. A very promising start for NIHA activities! My Ministry too is keen to promote international trade relations by furthering contacts between businesses and schools and universities.
As I said before, the future looks bright. Turkey presents plenty of business opportunities. We share HOTIAD's pronounced European outlook. Europe holds the key to modernisation and improved economic prospects for Turkey. The preliminary talks on EU accession are currently boosting a true economic 'success story'. With its 70 million inhabitants, Turkey's economic potential is quickly expanding. It has a large and growing domestic market, a dynamic private sector and a high-quality and cost-effective labour force. Also the strategic location of Turkey as a gateway to central Asia, as well as the corridor for the transport of oil from the countries around the Caspian Sea are extremely important.
Moreover, under the present Turkish government economic reform is set to continue, further stimulating economic growth. Trade barriers are coming down and the sudden boom in Foreign Direct Investments since the start of (preliminary) EU-accession talks is striking.
Let me also take a look at bilateral trade figures for Turkey and the Netherlands. These reinforce our optimism. In 2006 the total Dutch export volume amounted to well over 3 billion US dollars; imports reached up to almost 1,8 billion US dollars. At present, the Netherlands are the second largest provider of FDI. The number of Dutch companies active in Turkey currently amounts to 400. We are keen to double the number of Dutch entrepreneurs doing business in Turkey by 2009, as compared to 2005. First results show this ambitious target to be feasible. Turkey is an important economic partner, and will be even more so in the future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Having said this, it is to no surprise that entrepreneurs on the Turkish market, many HOTIAD members among them, are doing well. I would like to congratulate you on this success. We cannot, however, rest on our laurels. A constant effort on our part is required, as figures show that the relative growth of bilateral trade volumes is slowing down, particularly in comparison to countries such as Russia and France.
We must beware not to leave opportunities unfulfilled. You may count on our support. The EVD and Dutch Trade Board will assist you in every way possible. I look forward to visiting Turkey this spring and establish further contacts. The same goes for our Minister for Foreign Trade, Frank Heemskerk, who is to undertake a government trade mission to Turkey later this year.
Your personal histories link up with Turkey. A special background, with a different meaning to each and everyone of you. I think we can safely say that your being part of Dutch society is what binds you also. You are Dutch entrepreneurs first and foremost. In this sense, you are ordinary members of the Dutch business community. But let me be clear: it is not my intention to underestimate or play down the importance of your special qualities.
On the contrary, I want you to look for ways of capitalising on your special knowledge and expertise, helping others in the process. You are in a position to help and support Dutch entrepreneurs doing business in Turkey. And you are in a perfect position to coach new entrepreneurs, young people sharing your Turkish background, who need to find their way. I wish you all the very best in everything you do. I am confident that you will further contribute to excellent business relations with Turkey. And for now, I hope your stay in Maastricht will be a very pleasant one.
Thank you.