The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, (NFIA) launched its regional office in Dubai, in an attempt to facilitate the access of Gulf companies into markets in the Netherlands and Europe.

'We believe we have a lot to offer overseas investors from GCC countries, especially through our successful and convenient business climate which facilitates investments, our strategic location, and our highly developed physical, financial and technological infrastructure,” said Patrick Polman, NFIA's executive director for the Gulf Region.

NFIA, as was officially announced last January by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade, will extend its expertise to the Gulf region “through advising companies interested in establishing, expanding or re-organising their pan-European operation in the Netherlands,” Polman said, and added that NFIA will also help investors who wish to take advantage of the Dutch business environment as a strategic base to cover Europe.

“We are pleased to open our regional office in Dubai,” Polman said, highlighting the growth of investments in recent years from the Arab world and GCC countries, and emphasising on the importance of attracting more investors from the GCC to the Netherlands.

“It would be a beneficial trade for both the Netherlands and the GCC, and would allow building economic alliances across key industrial sectors and enhancing trade and investment links between our nations,” he said.

“It would also have a positive impact on both our economies through increased job opportunities and business success,” he added.

Polman also stressed his commitment to advance the growth of foreign investments in the Netherlands through the NFIA's dedication that “introduces the investor with an intensive personal guidance to facilitate his investment process.'

The Netherlands, long Europe's trading crossroads, is an obvious choice when it comes to finding the best place to locate a pan-European business.

Some of the most interesting business facilitations in the Netherland include the country’s fiscal climate.

The corporate rate is well below the EU-average, and through its extensive tax treaty network double taxation is avoided, thus reducing withholding taxes on dividends, frequently even to nil per cent.

The country has signed tax treaties with over 80 countries to avoid double taxation. There is no withholding tax on outbound interest and royalty payments.

And there is the participation exemption which provides for an exemption of dividends received from and capital gains realised on the shares in qualifying Dutch or foreign subsidiaries, making it one of most competitive holding regimes in Europe.

The Netherlands is a frontrunner in the field of bilateral investment treaties, having pacts with over 100 countries, including emerging economies like India, Russia and Brazil.

By using the Netherlands as a platform for their overseas activities, foreign investors can enjoy the protection of these treaties, said a statement.-TradeArabia News Service