INVESTORDEVELOPMENTPROGRAMNetherlands Foreign Investment Agency

INVESTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMAdvice and support for foreign companieswith operations in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) is an operational

unit of the ministry of Economic Affairs. It helps and advises foreign

companies on the establishment, rolling out and/or expansion of

their international activities in the Netherlands. The NFIA provides

its services not only to new foreign investors but also to existing

foreign investors that already have one or more operations in

the Netherlands. Think of European restructuring activities where

Dutch locations could play a pivotal role, expansion of existing

activities in the Netherlands or the addition of new activities to

current Dutch operations. To this end the NFIA has developed the

Investor Development Program, in close collaboration with regional

development agencies and a number of large cities.

How can your company benefit from theInvestor Development program?

Partners in the InvestorDevelopment program

Information, advice and supportThe Investor Development program providesyou with a platform you can consult for adviceand support concerning any questions andissues you may face as a foreign companywith an operation in the Netherlands. These include matters such as obtaining visasand work permits for employees, assistancewith new investments and developmentprojects, and support in finding and applyingfor subsidies that could be available to yourcompany.

Bridging functionThe Investor Development program can alsointroduce you to Dutch governmentorganizations at the national, regional and

The NFIA and its partners in the InvestorDevelopment program can assist you with,among other things:• Information on a wide variety of aspects of

the investment climate in the Netherlands (e.g. legislation and regulations, taxes)

• Information and support in obtaining visas and work permits

• Information, advice and support in developments and new investment projects

• Information, advice and support in setting up networks and clusters of companies

• Access to local, regional and national and international networks

• Introductions to government authorities (municipal, provincial and national) and other public organizations

• Introductions to commercial service providers, such as consultants, agents, lawyers and recruitment and selection agencies

• A channel which allows you to share your views and experiences concerning the investment climate in the Netherlands with the Dutch government

• Support in resolving bottlenecks with respect to the investment climate in the Netherlands

• Information,adviceandsupportinfindingand applying for subsidies and other incentives

• Organization of various events (network meetings, round-table meetings, network dinners, update sessions with representatives from the Dutch government, etc.)

• Information and contacts for partnerships on tech skills between educational institutes and the private sector

The program is carried out by the NFIAin cooperation with a broad network oforganizations consisting of regionaldevelopment companies, provinces and anumber of large municipalities:• Investment and Development Agency for

the Northern Netherlands (NOM)• Development Agency East Netherlands

(Oost NV)• Invest Utrecht• amsterdam inbusiness (foreign

investment agency of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area)

• WestHolland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA)

• Rotterdam Investment Agency (RIA)• BOM Foreign Investments• Limburg Development and Investment

Company LIOF

INVESTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

local levels. Furthermore, we can bring youinto contact with commercial serviceproviders, such as consultants, agents andlawyers, and a wide variety of regional,national and international networks which areimportant to your company.

Your views countThe Investor Development program alsoserves as a channel through which you canshare your views and experiences concerningthe investment climate in the Netherlandswith the Dutch government. We collect yourfeedback and submit it to the relevantgovernment agencies, and use it as input forfuture decision-making. If necessary, weimmediately start looking for solutions toany bottlenecks in cooperation with theagencies concerned.

Tailor-made events and adviceIn connection with the Investor Developmentprogram, dozens of national and regionalevents are organized each year, ranging fromseminars and conferences to network dinners,round-table sessions and individual updatemeetings with representatives from theDutch government. Moreover, with NFIA andthe other partners involved in the InvestorDevelopment program, you can makeindividual arrangements for tailor-madesupport and advice.

Sustainable partnerships between education and businessEducation and business work closely together in the HBO Centers of Expertise and MBO Centers for innovative skills. This partnership is focused on a key sector or economic spearhead that is strongly represented in the region. Starting point is that the centers will be operating independently and be future-proof within 5 years, with an underlying business model that offers value for student, teacher and entrepreneur.

Interested?The services provided via the InvestorDevelopment program are completely free ofcharge and available to all foreign companieswhich have international operations inthe Netherlands, regardless of the year ofestablishment.

Additional informationFor additional information about the InvestorDevelopment program and the participatingorganizations please send your request toinfo@nfia.nl.

About the NFIAThe NFIA is an operational unit of the ministry of Economic Affairs. The NFIA helps and advises foreign companies on the establishment, rolling out and/or expansion of their international activities in the Netherlands. The NFIA was established 35 years ago, and has since then supported more than 3,300 companies from nearly 60 countries in the establishment or expansion of their international activities in the Netherlands. Besides its headquarters in The Hague, the NFIA has its own offices in the United Kingdom, Turkey, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Brazil. Additionally, the NFIA works together with Dutch embassies, consulates-general, and other organizations representing the Dutch government abroad, as well as with a broad network of domestic partners.

Jet-NetJet-Net, the Youth and Technology NetworkNetherlands, is a partnership between companies, government, intermediaries, colleges of higher education, universities and schools for higher secondary education. Together they promote science education amongst students. Jet-Net was started in 2002 and has grown into a network with 84 companies and 23 partner organizations.

Avery Dennison | USA | European HQ and R&D in Leiden“Avery Dennison has a long, successful history in Europe and the Leiden area.” Avery Dennison selected the Leiden Bio Science Park as its new location because it is a focal point for research-based organizations, including a number of medical life science and pharmaceutical companies.

Astellas | Japan | European R&D and supply chain, international sales & marketing, manufacturing“The Netherlands has a favorable investment climate, making it even more attractive to us to have Dutch operations. What’s more, Dutch government bodies such as the NFIA are making a constructive contribution to the scope for further development.”

Danone | France | innovation center in Utrecht“The Danone innovation centre in Utrecht will create excellent opportunities for the growth of our business and employees. We want to build a new innovation centre for Specialised Nutrition for the 21st century in Utrecht Science Park. This isareflectionofthequalityofthecurrentteamsand our desire to attract international talent.”

Fujifilm | Japan | manufacturing, European HQ, R&D and logistics“We have always had an excellent relationship with Dutch governmental institutions and have particularly good contacts with the Ministry of EconomicAffairsandtheNFIA.TheNFIAisanimportant advisory and sparring partner for us, not only here, but also in Japan. They are always on standby for us and we can always call when we need advice or support.”

Heinz | USA | innovation center in Nijmegen“Located as we are at the conjunction of the internationally recognized Dutch Food and Health Valley, we aspire to become leading innovators in the provision of great tasting healthy food solutions to the people of the markets we serve.” Heinz has chosen Nijmegen to be the continued place for its R&D center, the largest R&D facility of Heinz outside the US.

TAQA | Abu Dhabi | Gas Storage Bergermeer“The start of construction in Bergermeer is an important milestone for the Netherlands and TAQA. A large and complex project such asGasStorageBergermeerhasbenefitedfromsolid collaboration between our partners, the regulators and our communities. TAQA very much appreciates the support from the Dutch government over the last four years.”

Netherlands ForeignInvestment Agency

Netherlands Foreign Investment AgencyT: +31 88 602 1142W: www.nfia.nlE: info@nfia.nl

July 2013