February 18, 2009 - February 20, 2009
Exporting to Europe Through the Netherlands

Goal: To broaden export knowledge of Canadian food companies, and establish new and important contacts in the Netherlands and European markets.

This 3-day session on Exporting to Europe through the Netherlands will expose valuable insights on how to logistically move food products to key European markets. It includes: Presentations on food exporting opportunities to the EU Presentation on exporting to Europe through the Netherlands by Rotterdam Port Authority A boat tour of Rotterdam Port Tour logistics/cold storage facilities and meet company executives Meet key European retail food buyers and distributors in a networking setting Opportunity to tell your story to Canadian and Dutch food companies Presentation on latest Dutch food processing and packaging technology Attend the "Taste of Canada" dinner with key food buyers/distributors and government officials from the Netherlands and Canada Presentation on the Halal food market in the Netherlands and Western Europe

Why The Netherlands?

In trade circles, the Netherlands is a major gateway to Europe, with half of all goods entering the EU going through the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. The Dutch trade sector employs 27% of the population. With plans to expand the Rotterdam Port in 2010, the level of importance and functionality served by this point of access will only increase.

Rotterdam is the biggest port of entry into Europe. Nearly 80% of food exported by the Dutch is within the EU, with Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom being the main destinations.

It is estimated that nearly 40% of all Dutch exports are commodities that are imported and promptly exported with little or no processing in the interim; illustrating that the Netherlands is an active and dynamic trade hub. The Netherlands is a country with a variety of experienced importers and sales agents and a modern infrastructure system which facilitates trade for the Netherlands, and the entire European Union (EU).

Dutch manufacturers of machines for the production of food control 80 per cent of the global market for poultry-processing machines and 50 per cent of the global market for potato processing equipment. Also, the Dutch are leaders in greenhouse technology.

Canada and the Netherlands enjoy a strong camaraderie that has spanned well over 60 years. Netherlands' foreign direct investment in Canada now stands at over $31 billion, making them Canada's third largest investor behind the US and the UK.

The tour will provide a better understanding of global and regional halal food markets. The Netherlands and surrounding European countries have significant Muslim populations and show potential for halal products.

Taste of Canada in the Netherlands

We are organizing a 'Taste of Canada' food-tasting evening with key European retail food buyers and distributors. European buyers and distributors want to meet food companies before listing their products. The food-tasting evening will be a great opportunity for meat and Canadian food companies to take the first step of meeting key European retail food buyers and distributors.

Exporting to Europe Through the Netherlands Package

The Netherlands, February 18 - 20, 2009

The Euro Smart Food Tour includes:

• Four nights hotel in the Netherlands (Rotterdam & Amsterdam)
• Ground transportation and trains to all meetings and events
• Participation in a three day program that will provide insights into key European food markets and how best to market and export into these markets.

Price: CAD $3,600.00 (GST extra) not including flights



For more information on this exciting tour to the Netherlands, please contact Dennis McKnight directly on prices and availability.


dennis @ theinnovators.net
or
telephone: 1-403-265-3441