Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb held an Interview with Dunya Newspaper, 08 December 2011
Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb who is visiting Istanbul between 7-9 December 2011 with a delegation of representatives from Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce, Rotterdam Investment Agency and Feyenoord District Municipality held an interview with Dunya Newspaper on 08 December 2011
- What prompted your decision to visit Istanbul?
This is neither my nor Rotterdam’s first visit to Istanbul. In 2009, I visited this beautiful city as the Dutch State Secretary responsible for Social Affairs. The previous Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Ivo Opstelten, also paid visits to Turkey several times in the past decade. Not surprising, since Rotterdam and Istanbul are partner. It is also worthwhile to note that there have been numerous economic missions to Turkey with company delegations initiated by Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce. We thus have already strong ties with Turkey. However, we are very much willing to further strengthen our friendship and cooperation.
- What is the main objective of your visit?
The purpose of my visit is to strengthen the economic ties between Rotterdam and Turkey. On this occasion, I will be visiting only Istanbul, as this city is where all Rotterdam’s initiatives converge and we see a lot of business opportunities. During this trip, I am accompanied by the representatives of various Rotterdam based institutions such as Rotterdam Investment Agency, Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce as well as a Turkish origin alderman from the District Municipality of Feyenoord, Mr. Seyit Yeyden.
This week, we will be meeting the Mayor of Istanbul, Dr. Kadir Topbas, as well as the district mayors of Beyoglu and Sariyer, Mr. Ahmet M. Demircan and Mr. Sukru Genc, respectively. These gatherings will focus on further fostering the sister city ties between Rotterdam an Istanbul. In the past, we carried out interesting projects in the field of environment and exchanged ideas on urban development with Istanbul Municipality. I am also utmost pleased to note that Istanbul is attending International Rotterdam Architecture Biennales. I will also be gathering with the executives of Turkish companies which are active in the Western European market or are already operating in our city.
In October 2012, I am planning to return to Istanbul with a business delegation of Dutch companies from my region. You could consider my current trip as preparation for the next visit I will make next year when The Netherlands and Turkey will also celebrate the 400th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
- Could you briefly introduce International Rotterdam Architecture Biennial?
We are aware that fully realizing that better cities take a lot of hard work. Cities should therefore collaborate, exchange expertise, knowledge, and new approaches. City leaders who share best practices maximize progress and minimize costs. Better performing cities working together create more wealth for everyone involved. That's why we're glad to host the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), a platform focusing on the future of the city. This gives us an ideal instrument to share best practices and work together with other cities in the world such as Sao Paulo and Istanbul. And in a very concrete way too, as the IABR not just facilitates the exchange of expertise, common research, and the presentation of the results through its exhibitions and publications, but also engages this process with existing challenges. It has for instance made an agreement with the Municipality of Arnavutköy in Istanbul, and connects Dutch and Turkish expertise to develop a Strategic Plan for the area as well as Pilot Projects to be implemented by 2014. IABR's Arnavutköy project faces the challenge to come up with sustainable solutions that integrate the need to protect Istanbul's water reservoirs, to stimulate the productive use of the green areas and to accommodate ongoing urbanization at the same time, durable solutions that make the city a long term better performer for its inhabitants.
The projects connects Dutch expertise on water and integrated development with Turkish expertise on building the metropolis, an experience from which both parties can learn and profit.
- What is the place of Rotterdam in the Dutch economy?
As home of Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam is foremost a maritime city. With its excellent transportation infrastructure, Rotterdam serves as the gateway to Europe. In its immediate hinterland, 170 million consumers and all major Western European cities are located. Rotterdam Port handles 430 million tons of international cargo on annual basis and thus captures 38% market share in all Northern European ports situated between Le Havre and Hamburg. In the meantime, Rotterdam Port is also the most important energy hub in Europe as it hosts 6 refineries, 47 petrochemical companies and a pipeline network of 1500 km. Of course, our city’s economy is not confined to port operations. We have a vivid commercial and financial services branch with special expertise in international trade. Moreover, Rotterdam hosts a strong medical and healthcare industry with the Erasmus Medical Center being the focal point. Our city also takes pride in its highly developed creative industry representing 2,000 companies active in areas such as fashion, gaming, design and architecture.
As a result, I am delighted to say that 47.000 enterprises have selected Rotterdam as their main location. More than 15% of these companies are directly involved in international business. Among the many international investors who have already utilized Rotterdam’s economic potential are Arcelor Mittal Steel, Bank of China, Progress Software, Hexion Europe and Coca Cola. We are utmost pleased to see Turkish investors such as Boydak Holding, Normed Shipping and Organik Holding in our city, as well.
- What is the link between Rotterdam and Turkey, in Istanbul particular?
The Netherlands ranks among Turkey’s top-20 trade partners. Our bilateral trade volume surpassed € 6.1 billion last year. Moreover, Dutch companies have invested more than US$ 14 billion in Turkey since 2005. On the other hand, Turkish firms are also choosing The Netherlands and especially Rotterdam as investment location. For instance, one of the biggest Turkish investors in The Netherlands, Organik Holding, is operating a chemical factory in Rotterdam Port.
I believe that it is no coincidence that Rotterdam and Istanbul are sister cities. There are so many common points between Rotterdam and Istanbul. Both cities are by the sea. They are dynamic and modern but at the same time very diverse and multicultural. Furthermore, both cities’ inhabitants are hard-working, open to other cultures and they possess a ‘can-do mentality’.
Our cooperation in the academic field is also promising. Erasmus University and Shipping and Transport College are running academic cooperation with public and private counterpart educational institutions in Istanbul for a number of years.
I also would like to add that nearly 45.000 Turkish origin inhabitants of Rotterdam form a special bond between Rotterdam and Turkey. Recent research showed that our citizens of Turkish origin are among the most entrepreneurial in the Netherlands. Hundreds of big and small enterprises owned and managed by the Turkish community in Rotterdam are making a valuable contribution to the economic well-being of our city.
- What kind of opportunities does Rotterdam offer to foreign investors?
In addition to the Netherlands’ advantageous tax climate for international investors and the city’s unique geographical location as the gateway to Europe, Rotterdam offers a well-educated and multilingual labour force. Rotterdam Investment Agency (RIA) within our administration actively supports international companies during their establishment process, helps them find partners and create a business network in Rotterdam. RIA also provides assistance to assist their expatriate staff while settling down in Rotterdam. RIA maintains its contacts with the investors even after the establishment stage and help them wherever possible.
- What are Rotterdam’s future plans/visions for Istanbul?
e would like to reinforce our bilateral cooperation at business, municipal and cultural levels in the coming years. I am looking forward to my next visit in October 2012 with a delegation of Dutch companies, business support organizations as well as educational institutions.
- Thank you very much Mayor Aboudaleb
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Important Addresses for Doing business with Rotterdam |
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Rotterdam Investment Agency |
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Rotterdam Port |
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Netherlands Chamber of Commerce |
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Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency |
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Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency Istanbul Office |
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Netherlands Economic Network in Turkey |
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Netherlands Diplomatic Network in Turkey |
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