The Netherlands embraces opportunities in biopharmaceutical sector

By Zhou Wenting | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2019-05-30 16:58

Remco van Wijngaarden, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, speaks at the symposium hosted by the Netherlands Foreign Investment agency in Shanghai on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese biopharmaceutical enterprises will get more opportunities to invest in the Netherlands as the European Medicines Agency has been relocated to Amsterdam, according to a symposium hosted by the Netherlands Foreign Investment agency in Shanghai on Wednesday.

"The move will boost the biopharmaceutical sector in the Netherlands, further consolidate its international position in this field and bring tremendous opportunities to relevant enterprises and institutions, creating a more innovative biopharmaceutical environment in Europe," said Roland Brouwer, executive director of NFIA.

Wolf Ondracek, co-founder of 3EACON, a consultancy that specializes in bio-science in the Netherlands, said that the country boosts advanced infrastructure and transportation systems, advantageous taxation and R&D policies as well as high-quality talents.

He noted that the number of enterprises active in bio-science in the Netherlands has doubled in the past decade, in turn driving research related to cancer, cardiovascular diseases and healthcare.

"We expect more Chinese enterprises to set up their offices in Holland as it is much easier for us to communicate with each other and seek a win-win cooperation," said Geeske In 't Velt, partner of 3EACON.

According to Remco van Wijngaarden, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Shanghai, the bilateral trade volume between the two countries has been growing. Last year, exports from the Netherlands to China grew to 11 billion euros ($12.25), while exports from China to the country grew to 36 billion Euros.

Chinese enterprises have also established more than 700 businesses in the Netherlands, creating nearly 16,000 jobs, as of the end of 2018, he added.

"More Chinese enterprises are expected to expand their overseas market and gain business success by investing in the Netherlands, which is a gateway for them to enter European market." Brouwer said.

Tang Xiaofan contributed to this story.