Commercial Affairs

The commercial section of the Netherlands Embassy provides information on present commercial developments and business opportunities in Greece for Netherlands companies. Generally, this promotion is offered through commercial correspondence, but also by individual briefings, trade promotion activities and working visits to the Netherlands. Also, information (magazines, brochures and catalogues) on business developments in the Netherlands is dissiminated through this section.

Activities of the commercial section are closely coordinated with e.g. the agricultural section of this Embassy, the Netherlands Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (EVD) and the Hellenic Dutch Association of Commerce and Industry.

General information about the Netherlands as an attractive investment location is provided at the Web site of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA).

Greece sectors in development:

The Netherlands is one of the main trade partners of Greece. The bilateral external trade relations of the two countries are long established and well developed. The Netherlands are the fifth trade partner of Greece and are among the largest foreign investors in Greece.

Greece is a major importer of Netherlands agricultural and food products (a.o. meat and dairy products) and chemicals (mainly styrene and special chemicals).

The Netherlands are not only a well known producer of agricultural products and chemicals but also of high technology products, electronics, textiles, and a provider of high quality specialized services (engineering, logistics, health care, information technology, etc).

Market opportunities for Dutch companies:

The Greek market offers a variety of trade opportunities to Netherlands exporters of goods and services. The most promising sectors for the Netherlands exporters of goods and services are: foods and beverages, non-food consumer products, home textiles and carpeting, packaging equipment and materials, medical/hospital equipment and disposables, electronics, transports.

Food and beverages:

Deep frozen processed products; meat products; dairy products; bakery and confectionary products.

Agro-industrial products and food processing:

Equipment for agricultural production; sorting and packaging equipment; cold storage for fruit and plant production; propagation material for animals; equipment for the food processing industry.

Non-food consumer goods:

Textiles/shoes; electrical appliances; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; consumer electronics; fuels and minerals; computers and peripherals; carpeting.

Industrial products and raw materials:

Plastics; metals and metal products; paints and lacquers; electronics; inks and colour pigments; construction materials; industrial equipment and packaging; chemicals; medical equipment and disposables.

Transport equipment:

Vehicles; rail stock/metro/trams.

Energy:

NG and LPG-projects; mild energy sources.

Services:

Engineering consultancy; project management; financial services; accountancy; HR-developments; information technology; health care sector; regional development; CAD and desktop publishing; logistics.

Action programme 1998 “promoting market penetration and product knowledge”:
Sectoral Market study Netherlands Medical Technology
A sectoral market study on the chances for the Netherlands medical technology sector was published in March 1998, and is available at the Embassy, as well as the Netherlands Foreign Trade Promotion Agency, EVD. As a direct follow up action, the Netherlands Embassy, together with the EVD and the branche organisation FME-CWM organised a national stand at the Hygeia Trade Fair in Thessaloniki in April, last.

Sectoral Market Research

The following sectors may be examined: environmental technology, construction materials, logistics, tourism, non-food consumer goods, chemicals, metals and metal products and energy.

Business meetings

Athens, quarterly. Since the beginning of 1997, the Embassy re-established the Netherlands business community meetings, at which key note speakers from the private and public sector are invited to give a briefing on specific topics.

Other interesting Web sites and information:

Apart from visiting the commercial section at the Netherlands Embassy, you could also take a look at some interesting sites and information on the Netherlands. Here you will find the list of Dutch companies in Greece. The bilateral trade trends are summarised in the trade figures on the first three quarters of 1997.

In the Netherlands, several non-governmental organisations initiate international commercial contacts, such as the Federation for Netherlands Exports (Fenedex), the Chambers of Commerce, the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH) and the FME-CWM (mechanical, metal working, plastics, electronics and electrical engineering industries).

The introduction of the Euro:

Finally in the year 2002 the time will have come: the first Euros will be in use. The common currency is the final piece of the economic integration in the European Union. On the first of January 1999, the countries participating in the Economic and Monetary Union will link their national currency together for once and for all. This means no more uncertainty about exchange rates. Exchange cost and the inconvenience of converting are things of the past. For trade and industry a lot of obstacles will thus be removed.

The euro has favourable consequences for the competitive position of the Netherlands as a business location for foreign companies. Exchange rate fluctuations between the countries implementing the Euro, will be eliminated. The financial market will extend and become more transparent, resulting in lower financing costs. In short: the Euro will be the ‘lubricant’ of the Dutch economy.

Preparations on national level for a smooth introduction of the Euro have already started in the first months of 1996. A National Forum for the introduction of the Euro was been set up in which banks, companies and government institutions are represented. The National Forum exchanges information about the implementation of the Euro, points out potential problems and tries to find solutions.