Ms. Imanda Wapenaar talks about the WFIA

Ehsan introduces Ms. Imanda Wapenaar who is a former member of RCAI and is currently the executive director of the WFIA which was founded 10 years ago with the goal of promoting foreign investments in the Leiden/ Den Haag/ Delft/ Zoetemeer/ Rijswijk area.

In particular WFIA aims to attract new international companies, assist and advise international companies in their installing procedures and supporth the already installed International companies. In sum it can be considered as a "one-stop-shop" for foreign investors.

WFIA operates mainly in the IT, energy, biotech, safety, agribusiness and water technology fields and is registered as a "stichting" which has a running budget of 1.6 M?. The results obtained are self-speaking and in the period 2000-2008 have contributed to the establishment of 260 companies (450 new direst jobs) in the area. 2009, despite the crisis, is also looking good and, as of october, 27 new foreign companies have installed themselves in West Holland.

The speaker also stated that, in addition to the above mentioned tasks, WFIA is contributing to the "well being" of its international clients by organizing events to help them to integrate and by keeping an eye opened for potential problems that the foreign investors might have.

The speech was well appreciated and Imanda accepted to answer to a few questions. Davras thanked her on behalf of the Club and Ehsan presented her with a copy of the "taste for life" cookbook.

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