Spread your wings
Are you a small to medium sized Dutch company with overseas growth ambitions? If so, why not apply for a package of valuable export support and advice.
Now in its third year, the Orange Trade Mission Fund (Oranje Handelsmissiefonds) awards 10 successful applicants with individually-tailored packages of support to realise their overseas expansion plans.
The support takes the form of practical advice, extensive knowledge about overseas markets, flight tickets, a large network of valuable contacts and participation in overseas trade missions and international trade fairs.
Applications for this year’s awards can be made via www.ohmf.nl and close on Friday, 2 October.
The initiative’s supporters, ING, KLM, the Dutch SME association and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs all pool their resources and work together with the prize winners over the course of a year to map out and implement an international business strategy.
20 businesses have already seen their overseas expansion plans receive a major boost through Oranje Handelsmissiefonds packages, awarded over the past two years. These businesses have either participated in trade missions to or visited international exhibitions in Beijing, Bogota, Hannover, Houston, Miami, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei, Tokyo, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Toronto and Warsaw.
ING CEO Ralph Hamers said: “The organisers want to inspire entrepreneurs to look beyond our Dutch borders. In an open economy such as the Netherlands, exports are still an important source of growth. Fortunately, the economy is recovering, but only slowly, so it remains vitally important that entrepreneurs look overseas for growth opportunities.”
The winners of this year’s Oranje Handelsmissiefonds packages will be announced at a special ceremony on