Eyeing heavy investments in automobile, information technology and pharma sectors, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) is targetting industrial biggies from western India to open sales offices, research centres and manufacturing units in Netherlands. The NFIA has so far helped 11 Indian corporates set up offices and units in Netherlands at an approximate cost of Rs 22 crore providing direct employment to 195 Indian executives over last two years.
The NFIA-India unit is working with companies from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the most industrialised states in the country, to have presence in Netherlands, which is considered as the gate-way to Europe. Speaking to Business Standard, NFIA executive director Robert Schipper said, "Indian companies are slowly and steadily entering Netherlands. A company like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has its European head quarter in Netherlands. We are targetting companies from western India since these companies have excellent growth potential."
Schipper added, "Pune is emerging fast as a hub of information technology and bio-technology. All well-known Indian companies have presence in Pune. Netherlands can provide a strategic location for all these companies when they try to enter European market."
Even, internationally, various corporates are looking at Netherlands to have business operations. During year 2008, 182 foreign investment projects were supported by NFIA of which, 101 were new establishments. Apart from TCS, Indian companies namely Wipro, Genpact, Interglobe Technologies, Dishman Pharmaceuticals and others have operations in Netherlands. The NFIA plans to hold industrial events in cities like Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh to attract manufacturing companies to enter Netherlands, he added.