August 2005 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

INTERVIEW
possibilities. To name a few: as preservative in
meat, salads & dressings and feed applications,
as pH regulator and/or flavourant in sour dough,
candies and personal care products, as moisturizer
in cakes and cosmetics, as cleaner ingredient
and/or solvent in house-hold cleaners and the
production of micro-chips and CD-ROMS, and
many more.
How has the market evolved over
5 the last years for a biochemical
supplier like PURAC? And how
does the future look like?
The market for our type of product has expanded
tremendously. Most of the growth was driven
by PURAC’s market approach through an
enthousiastic group of people. Since the early
80-ies we were able to record double-digit growth
percentages, resulting in us becoming the most
dominant player in this field. Since the end of
the 80-ies when we set up an office in Asia, we
also were able to become the most dominant
player in this part of the world. At times we
enjoyed years of more than 25% growth. The worst
recorded performance, during the ‘IMF crisis’ as
the Koreans put it, was a meager 5% growth. Last
year PURAC was able to generate globally a 19 %
growth in sales volume. We hope to repeat this…
You have lived in Singapore for
6 12 consecutive years. That is
longer than most of us and you
must have enjoyed it. What makes
Singapore enjoyable?
12 years is quite some time, but it felt like it was
only a couple of years. Asia by itself has always
attracted me and I loved doing business in this
part of the world where relationships count.
Singapore as a place to stay made it even more
enjoyable, although I could have done without
the heat and humidity. Singapore’s live-style is
quite relaxed, everything seems to function,
hardly any traffic jams, a convenient airport close
by, a good cultural & art scene and having an
‘amah’ has made it all very convenient. That will
be something to adjust to in the USA.
cold and of course a nice meal of fried kwai theow.
As far as it concerns business, I will miss the
typical way of building relationships over the years
and the friendship that goes with it. Quite a
number of business friends turned into personal
friends as well.
Particularly, what has changed
8 over the last 12 years in Asia?
Like everybody noticed there is a lot
more prosperity in Asia nowadays, as a result of
tremendous economic growth in the last 10 years.
These changes offer great opportunities when
one is willing to invest in Asia for the long run.
Unfortunately the tremendous growth has not
touched everybody yet. The in-equality seemed
to have grown as well.
Any advise for newcomers how
9 to run a business in Asia?
Practice common sense and be sensitive
of the tremendous culture differences and act
upon it. Terrible mistake are easily made and
take a long time to ‘undo’ them. ‘Do as the
Romans do’ and take the time to develop your
relationships. Don’t rush into them.
What are you appreciating and
7 will you miss most of living and
doing business in Asia Pacific?
What has made the biggest impression
on you so far?
As far as living in Asia; being able to step into the
pool every day of the year and not feeling the
Can you give us a nice metaphor
10 for doing business in Asia?
Doing business in Asia is like…a marathon
runner. It takes discipline, time, hard work and
pain to prepare, but you feel great when you
succeed in your quest. In the process you get
addicted and want to do it again.
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Vol.15 • No. 6 • July/August 2005