A week to enjoy In Touch with the Dutch
By Emily Ford |
March 7, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A WEEK dedicated to all things Dutch will take place in Shanghai next month, aimed at raising the profile of the Netherlands in China.
In Touch with the Dutch, a week of cultural events and business seminars intended to heighten Shanghai's awareness of the European nation and celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands, will start on April 22.
The Dutch Consulate in Shanghai hopes to mobilize the 4,000-strong Dutch community living in the city to demonstrate the rich contribution made by Dutch businesses to China, as well as helping to attract Chinese enterprises to invest in Holland at a critical time for the country.
Peter Potman, the consul general, said at a special preview of Dutch Week yesterday that the Netherlands tended to underplay its strengths and was often overlooked in China, especially when compared with Germany, its bigger European neighbor.
"If Shanghai people think of Germany, they have a clear image - BMWs, industrial centers and, of course, famous German quality. But we Dutch are very good at design and technology and the know-how that goes into products," he said.
"We have to present ourselves better and do more in terms of Holland branding."
At a time when Europe was still in the throes of a debt crisis, with the Netherlands facing budget cuts of 9 billion euros (US$12 billion) this year to stay within the European Union's budget deficit target of 3 percent of GDP, Chinese investment in the country would be crucial, Potman said.
Shanghai was viewed as the "entry point" to the rest of the Chinese mainland for Dutch businesses, he added.
Most of the week's events will be held in The Dutch Design Space in Jing'an District.
In Touch with the Dutch, a week of cultural events and business seminars intended to heighten Shanghai's awareness of the European nation and celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands, will start on April 22.
The Dutch Consulate in Shanghai hopes to mobilize the 4,000-strong Dutch community living in the city to demonstrate the rich contribution made by Dutch businesses to China, as well as helping to attract Chinese enterprises to invest in Holland at a critical time for the country.
Peter Potman, the consul general, said at a special preview of Dutch Week yesterday that the Netherlands tended to underplay its strengths and was often overlooked in China, especially when compared with Germany, its bigger European neighbor.
"If Shanghai people think of Germany, they have a clear image - BMWs, industrial centers and, of course, famous German quality. But we Dutch are very good at design and technology and the know-how that goes into products," he said.
"We have to present ourselves better and do more in terms of Holland branding."
At a time when Europe was still in the throes of a debt crisis, with the Netherlands facing budget cuts of 9 billion euros (US$12 billion) this year to stay within the European Union's budget deficit target of 3 percent of GDP, Chinese investment in the country would be crucial, Potman said.
Shanghai was viewed as the "entry point" to the rest of the Chinese mainland for Dutch businesses, he added.
Most of the week's events will be held in The Dutch Design Space in Jing'an District.
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