new at westholland

Ms. Annette Nijs joins Supervisory Board of Westholland

Former State Secretary of Education, Ms. Annette Nijs, has joined the WFIA supervisory board.  With her extensive expertise, background and connections, Ms. Nijs will be able to assist WFIA by highlighting possible opportunities for international companies thinking of establishing in the Netherlands with the emphasis on WestHolland Region.

“International companies and organisations are accountable for 17% of the total Dutch Labor force and 32% of the total Dutch gross domestic product, according to figures from the Dutch National Statistics institute CBS. They are an important cornerstone for the Dutch Economy. It is, therefore, important for the Westholland to sustain the international companies already in the region and improve the International investment climate to attract new international companies.  I see opportunities for international educational organisations but also for oil and gas companies so I am here to help convince them”, according to Annette Nijs.

Annette Nijs has an extensive international network. Between 2002 and 2004 she was State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science during Balkende first and second terms in office and later became Member of Parliament for de Liberal Party (VVD).  Annette Nijs studied Macro-economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and was guest teacher at the London School of ecomonics.  After her graduation she worked for Unilever, The Royal Dutch Entrepeneurs Union (KNOV) and Shell.  She has worked and is still working all over the world i.e. London, Muscat (Oman), Damascus, Houston, Manilla and Shanghai.  In 2006 she founded the Europe China Institute as part of the Nyenrode Business University.  In 2009 she released the book “China Through Other Eyes”. Annette Nijs is the Executive Director Global Initiative of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).

Supervisory Board
The current WFIA Supervisory Board includes Mr. Van Oosten, former CEO of BAM International as Chairman and  Mr. Rijk van Marion R.A., former Partner KPMG.  The Supervisory Board meets three times a year and once a year together with the Board of Participants.   All the WFIA regional economic partners are member of the Board of Participants.  Chairman of the Board of Participants is Mr. Henk Kool, Vice Mayor Social Affairs, Employment and Economy of the City of The Hague.
 
WestHolland Foreign Investment Agency (WFIA)
The WFIA assists international companies in establishing, expanding or relocating their operations in the WestHolland region. Recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the WFIA was founded in 2000 by the municipalities of The Hague, Delft, Leiden, and Zoetermeer along with The Hague Chamber of Commerce and The Greater The Hague Region. Since December 2008 the municipality of Lansingerland has been a member of the WFIA. The province of South Holland also supports the WFIA.