Building bridges together Dutch Embassies are highly involved when it comes to mayor sports events taking place in the country they are established. As shown in Poland and Ukraine (hosting EURO 2012) and the United Kingdom (hosting the Olympic Games of 2012) the Dutch Embassy can build bridges between local parties and Dutch entrepreneurs. Combine the local ambitions with Dutch expertise. FME works in close cooperation with Dutch Embassies all over the world, with a special focus on the upcoming events in Brazil, France, Russia and Qatar.
Brazil Green, yellow…and Orange! Now that the ball has been handed over from South Africa to the Brazil and the Olympic torch is on its way from London to Rio, all eyes are on Brazil for the World Cup in 2014 and the Rio Olympics in 2016. Brazil is economically and we see many opportunities for Dutch firms in sectors like logistics, transportation, security, construction, and also hospitality and stadium management. These are areas in which Dutch companies really excel and could share their experience with Brazilian counterparts. There are plenty of prospects here, but also a few hurdles to face. To companies planning to enter the Brazilian market, we therefore recommend to always do so with a Brazilian business partner. The Dutch diplomatic representation in Brazil consists of the Embassy in Brasília, Consulates General in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and the Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSOs) in Recife and Porto Alegre. Through this network we facilitate the requests of Dutch companies wanting to start or expand their operations in Brazil. The Dutch economic network could assist by finding the right contacts through a ‘business partner scan’ or by providing insights on this upcoming market. The representation has at its disposal an extensive network consisting of companies and relevant government institutions. Introductory meetings can also be facilitated for all Dutch firms interested in Brazil during trade visits, often being announced by ministries and Agency NL / EVD. In November 2012 we will welcome Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander and Princes Máxima who will be accompanied by an extensive trade delegation making a tour through four major cities in Brazil. We are very glad FME is facilitating the sector of suppliers for sports 6
Dutch Sports Infrastructure Guide
events during this trade delegation. We hope to see more FME-led visits to Brazil in the coming years. We will be seeing a lot of green and yellow, the national colors of Brazil, as the Brazilians move into the spotlight. The Dutch economic network is at your service to help add a little orange to these events.
Kees Rade Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Brazil bra-ez@minbuza.nl
France UEFA EURO 2016: Focus turns to France Following the success of UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, the focus is now on the 2016 edition in France, where 24 teams will compete in the finals for the first time. From four to eight, to 16 to 24 next time around, almost half of EUFA’s 53 member associations will contest the European championship in four years’ time. France has played a key role in the founding of the UEFA European Championship. It was the brainchild of a Frenchman, Henri Delaunay, EUFA’s first secretary-general from June 1954 to November 1955. The 2016 tournament will be the third time, after 1960 and