Kathy's Top Interview with Vice Mayor of Amsterdam
For a full version of the Interview, read the Chinese version of the website or the newspaper ED.158
Vice Mayor of Amsterdam Carelien Gehrels will visit China together with a cultural and Economic delegation
Q &Ａ ｗith Vice Mayor of Amsterdam Carelien Gehrels
Q:What is the mission of your trip?
A:To maintain our relationship with China we (the vice-mayor or I) visit the country atleast once a year. During those trips we visit companies, organize business seminars, meet the city officials and visit cultural institutions.
Q: What is the expected impact of the trip?
A: The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) will perform in Beijing when we are there. RCO is a great cultural ambassador for the city and it is very special that they perform in China so we will invite our relations to one of the concerts.· Also we will visit companies that are already settled in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area or companies that are thinking of setting up European activities. · The directors of Schiphol and KLM are also joining us on this trip to China. Together we will meet up with people from the travelling industry to see how we can increase the number of Chinese visitors in the coming years. This is not just about numbers (quantity) but more so about quality. There is so much to do in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands that appeals to a Chinese audience (51 different Museums, Diamond Boutigques, High End shops, Keukenhof)
Q: What future plan for the cooperation do you have with China?
A: We think that the relations between the Amsterdam Area and China will grow. At this point there are already 53 flights a week from Schiphol to China. 1,3 passengers came from or went to China in 2011. This makes it easier to intensify partnerships. · Beijing has been the sister city of Amsterdam since 1994. The two cities have an exchange relation geared towards sustainability, waste management, energy, water management, tourism and electric transportation· China is one of the focus countries when it comes to foreign investments. More and more Chinese companies set up shop in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. The fact that ICBC settled in Amsterdam made it easier for Chinese companies to do business here in the area. For Chinese companies, Amsterdam is a great location to enter and cater to the European market. · After the last trip to China in September of 2011 Huawei, China's largest telecom and IT company announced that they will expand in Amsterdam, opening a European headquarters for its Enterprise Business Group. In its first year, this activity will result in 100 immediate job placements, on top of the 300 employees Huawei already has in Amsterdam.
Q: What is the cultural and economic plan of Amsterdam for the next few years?
A: Culture is one of the pillars of the city. It’s an urban myth that Amsterdam was built on wooden poles…it was built on arts and culture. · In the last years Amsterdam has invested millions in its museums and theatres:
i. In 2011 the new Maritime Museum reopened. This former warehouse of the Dutch Fleet is a symbol of Dutch maritime history and is such an asset to the city’s existing museums. In it’s opening month the Maritime museum has had almost 70.000 visitors.
ii. The new EYE Film Instute will open April 5. EYE is the first major arts institution to make the leap over the IJ, and it’s here that the Institute will grow into an inspiring cultural meeting place.
iii. In the summer of 2012 we will see the re-opening of the Stedelijk Museum. · The year 2013 is a special year for the city of Amsterdam: the famous Amsterdam canals exist for 400 years, the Rijskmuseum will reopen, Artis Royal Zoo will celebrate its 175th birthday, The Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will celebrate their 125th jubilee and Felix Meritus exists for 225 years. China-Amsterdam Facts & Figures· The Netherlands now houses almost 300 Chinese companies, of which approximately 30% are located within the Amsterdam region.There are 76 (10 HQ’s) Chinese companies in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area 39 of the 76 Chinese companies here came to the AMA in the last 5 years!
In 2011 nine Chinese companies settled in the AMA, eleven in 2010 and eight in 2008
The most important (wellknown) Chinese companies in the AMA are: Huawei, ICBC, Liugong, China Southern Airlines, Lenovo, Bank of Beijing, Hikvision, Opzoon
The biggest company is Huawei with +/- 400 employees.
The Chinese Community in Amsterdam is estimated to be around 7000 people. The Chinese expat community consists of 3000 companies.
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