BUSINESS TALK WTC-NL magazine asked 8 entrepreneurs the following: 1. Describe your most memorable international business trip. 2. Who is your source of inspiration in business? 3. What role do logistics play in your company?
WTC LEEUWARDEN Ali Sarac Partner of Intro2Turkey
WTC THE HAGUE Simon Adriaan Visscher Managing Director at Yeemm
1. Since 2004, we have been organizing outbound trade missions to promote Dutch exports. We do so on the instructions of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Chambers of Commerce, and the WTCs. Our target country is Turkey, a country that has taken action to bring about strong development, for instance with the construction of roads, airports, and railways. This offers great opportunities for Dutch companies. It always amazes me that people have such a stereotyped impression of the country. Companies imagine something out of the Arabian Nights stories. The reality of the country always surpasses their expectations. I’m in Turkey every week, and I’m continually positively surprised. 2. I am inspired by various people, primarily due to their perseverance, their ability to think outside the box, and their courage. I can’t give you just one example; my impression is based on a collection of different characters. I see great and inspiring things in many different people, from Nelson Mandela to my business partner. 3. Alongside trade missions and tailored company advice, we also have a trading house. With this we represent various Dutch companies in Turkey. We generally opt for road transport to Turkey, but we also use transport by water and sometimes air. We export a diverse range of goods, from agricultural crop sprayers to aircraft components and complete buildings made from containers.
1. In 2008, I spent a month in China organizing and presenting a benefit concert. In cooperation with the Chinese government and film star Jackie Chan, we raised money for the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan province. The concert was a great spectacle, and was watched by around 1.3 billion people in Asia. The idea of Yeemm also came into being in China. It was always such a hassle to use SIM cards, so we started looking for a solution to make international calls cheaper and more manageable. 2. Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, is a great example for me. He is someone who has set up a fantastic business in various different sectors and has done a fantastic job in terms of publicity too. I find it inspiring how he has managed to create something with a great philosophy and has expanded it into something so big. 3. We are active in 225 countries, and with more than 500 network providers our clients can make calls and use the internet at local rates. If you travel to a different country, your SIM card travels with you and you are automatically connected with the local network. You can also be reached worldwide on a single +44 number. Latest news: in cooperation with WTC The Hague, we will be offering a SIM card for the international business centres network.
36