Toespraak bij The American Chamber of Commerce

(De toespraak is in het Engels gehouden)

Mr Oberman, ladies and gentlemen,

I'm delighted to be here with you today. The bond between the United States and the Netherlands is a truly special one. For me personally, as well as for the Dutch people.

The United States is a source of inspiration and an example to the world in many ways.
Business pioneer Henry Ford summed up the positive American spirit when he said:

'When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.'

Since the day it was founded, the United States has stood as a symbol of dynamism and belief in the future. I saw this for myself when I first got to know the country in 1985. At that time, I travelled around for four weeks as part of an exchange programme.

And as the years have passed, my involvement with the US has grown stronger. I now travel there regularly. Next week, for example, I will be participating in the Bilderberg conference, near Washington.

You, as members of AmCham, serve as vital links between our countries. You are at home on both sides of the water.
The Americans among you know about our little ways.
Take our national cuisine, in all its variety. With a bitter ball, oily ball, meat ball or soup ball in a starring role.

Or take our passion for the colour orange. I'll warn you now: next month the European Football Championships begin, and you can expect to see that passion take on wild forms.

And ladies and gentlemen, new research has recently turned the spotlight on another typical Dutch characteristic. This month a scholar presented her research on the factors that account for the success of Dutch businesses in the US.

One of the key factors turned out to be our informal way of doing business.

The most important decisions are made before a meeting starts, while standing by the coffee machine. And it seems this approach works well in America.

It seems to me that, despite our minor cultural differences, American and Dutch people simply click. This is certainly true of business. And I have the figures to prove it.

The mutual interest between the Netherlands and United States is frequently underestimated. In 2006, more US foreign direct investment went to the Netherlands than to any other country in the world. And in the opposite direction, the Netherlands' presence is just as strong in America. Seventeen per cent of all EU investment in the United States comes from the Netherlands.

You could say the Netherlands is punching well above its weight.

Some 440,000 American jobs have been generated as a result of Dutch investment in the United States. In the Netherlands some 200,000 people earn their living working for American companies based here.

So we are talking not only about money and growth, but also about employment. And about hundreds of thousands of families that enjoy economic security as a result.

Ladies and gentlemen, as members of the American Chamber of Commerce you are working to strengthen investment and trade between our countries. In doing so, you are honouring a long tradition. Two hundred and thirty years ago diplomat Benjamin Franklin was working for precisely the same thing when he stayed here in Amsterdam. His guiding principle was simple:

'No nation was ever ruined by trade.'

And he saw the Netherlands as a shining example of this. Let me share with you this short quotation from Franklin's 'Thoughts on Commercial Subjects':

'Wherever commerce is known to be always free, as in Holland, there will always be a reasonable supply.'

And indeed, openness has always been a driving force behind our prosperity. Since the time of Henry Hudson and the Dutch East India Company right up to the present day.

The Netherlands is not afraid of globalisation. On the contrary, globalisation presents us with extra opportunities.

It is up to ús, however, to provide a healthy business climate for companies that wish to operate in the Netherlands. To ensure that we can compete with the best countries in Europe and beyond, so that companies want to come here, and stáy here.

This continual challenge is one of our highest priorities. And it is a good thing we have organisations like yours to monitor our progress and be critical when necessary. You are the voice of the Dutch-American business community. It goes without saying that we listen carefully to what you have to say.

Over the last few years, we have systematically strengthened our economy. With some impressive results.

Yesterday I attended the launch of the Lisbon Scorecard at the Centre for European Reform. This British think tank called the Netherlands 'in many respects the EU's most successful economy'. The Netherlands is 'unique in the Union', according to the CER, because 'it combines high levels of productivity with a high employment rate'.

We have worked very hard to give the Netherlands the best possible competitive edge. We have tackled the administrative burden on companies: the OECD has called us a 'front runner' in this respect. Reforms to our social security system are stimulating labour market participation and discouraging early retirement.

I greatly appreciate the fact that AmCham has recognised these positive developments, and has even expressed its compliments in this year's Priority Points. You say that the course that has been set by the government is strengthening business confidence in the Netherlands. And you speak of 'a sense of dynamism'.

Marvellous words, ladies and gentlemen. But no reason to be content.

We may be justified in being self-confident. But self-satisfied? Never!

I would like to echo these wise words by Bill Gates. He said: 'Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.'

We only have to read your priorities list to realise that there is still room for improvement.

Quite rightly, you point to the job market in the Netherlands. We have to increase labour participation among the Dutch workforce.

In the European Union our employment rate of 76 per cent is exceeded only by that of Denmark. We are not doing badly. At the same time, far too many people who can work are sitting on the sidelines. This is bad for them, and also for you. Good staff are becoming harder to find. In today's economy it's all hands on deck.

More efforts are needed to ensure that everyone in this country is encouraged to bring out the best in themselves.

To return to soccer for a moment, we need to get people off the bench and give them a chance on the field.

I worry most about young people who do not get the stimulus they need at home. Families in which unemployment is passed down from generation to generation. Or families of new arrivals who have trouble finding a place in our society.

There are too many young drop-outs in the Netherlands. Young people without a school diploma are going to miss out on the skills they need to make something of their lives.

As you know, we want to halve the number of school drop-outs. But we cannot do this alone. The support of the business community is essential.

To my mind, AmCham's initiative, 'Champs on Stage', is a good example of such support. You invite young students to get to know the practical side of your business. And this is not simply a school trip, but a chance to really learn the business, from the inside out.

Students are introduced to the daily structure of a working week. They are guided and supported by mentors. They get the opportunity to take responsibility and discover their own talents. I truly hope that this programme can be extended to more schools and more companies.

Another theme from your list of priorities is the need to further simplify Dutch tax legislation. I fully acknowledge the importance of a clear, fair and competitive tax system. And we must always remain alert to possibilities for improvement.

On the other hand, only last month, research commissioned by AmCham itself suggested that, in general, this community is reasonably satisfied with the fiscal climate here.

I promise you nonetheless, we will continue exploring ways of keeping our tax regime as attractive and as simple as possible.

Let me mention one last point from your priorities list: faster decision-making on necessary infrastructure. This is a subject dear to my own heart. As you know, the committee led by Peter Elverding recently made recommendations that could cut decision-making time by half. We cannot lose the momentum that has been gained here. The government will present proposals aimed at drastically speeding up the process.

My ambition is for the Netherlands to excel in physical infrastructure as it does in virtual infrastructure.

We are one of the leading countries for broadband access. We have the world's fastest digital network for research and development. And we are home to the world's largest internet exchange point. We owe it to our reputation to offer the best possible facilities above ground too. Facilities for mobility, enterprise and information exchange. Then the Netherlands will truly be regarded as the 'Portal to Europe'.

Ladies and gentlemen, our transatlantic bond is enormously valuable. A constant factor in our politics, our society and our business.

This bond offers not only support, but dynamism too. Certainty and renewal. And it cuts both ways.

I am very much looking forward to my trip to the US next week. Like you perhaps, I am fascinated by the festival of democracy the world is witnessing in the run-up to the presidential elections. I have every confidence that the new president will keep his or her sights fixed firmly on Europe, and indeed the Netherlands.

In any case, our doors are always open to America.

You are, and you will remain, welcome!