December 2009 / January 2010 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

Prologue
Time flies ...
I have the feeling that the summer holidays have just finished and now suddenly I realize
that Christmas and New year are approaching.
If I look back at the events we have organized since summer, I realize that it is true. The
Annual Dinner and Dance, the enterpreneurial panel, the visit of Jaap van Zweden and his
orchestra, the wine tasting at the Hollandse Club and finally we (and I) are preparing for the
end of year network drinks at my place, for which I invite all ADB members warmly.
Jan de Vegt
Looking back, it will probably be for some people a year to better forget, the aftermath of
the credit crisis, the economies going down and all the consequences that may have brought.
We see now signals that Singapore (and other countries) are technically out of recession.
Adding the word technically in these reports makes me suspicious. What are these journalists
and analists trying to say? Technically we are out but effectively we are still in?
In my personal opinion it will take some more time before all economic indicators are pointing
in the right direction. I think we are recovering from a huge overreaction on the credit crisis,
companies as a reaction (or as a consequence) stopped orders, used-up their inventories and
now, as consumer spending is not going down that drastically, they have to restock. This gives
pressure in factories and transportation systems, as factories and transport systems were scaled
down due to the sudden lack of orders due to the credit crisis or maybe their credit position.
Could that be the part that leads us ‘technically’ out of recession, but not really?
China will play a leading role in global economic recovery, new opportunities will come up,
reason for us to get some further insights in China and business developments, which is the
theme of this combined December/January issue.
I do hope that we are overcoming the economic crisis, but I still have my doubts. Technically
we may be out, but if we are effectively out….., time will tell ....
On the contrary we see that the number of Dutch people in Singapore still has risen over
the last year and the ADB has recorded its largest number of (new) members in history.
This of course motivates us to take our tasks even further.
December is family month Sinterklaas, Christmas, New years Eve. Most events you spend
with family and friends, whether here in Singapore, in the Netherlands or any other place on
this Earth, therefor I wish you and your families Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy
New Year.
Enjoy the holidays and see you next year on our traditional ‘Nieuwjaars borrel’ on the
11 th of January!
And in between the December festivities, do find the time to relax and read the ADB
Magazine!
Jan de Vegt
‘
The ADB provides opportunities for Dutch business people to meet, interact and share knowledge
by means of company visits, lectures, networking events and membership communications. ’
Marie-Hélène
Piederiet
Ard Huisman
Richard van der
Werf
Frank Kuijsters
Marleen
Dieleman
Rutger Oudejans
Hans Loth
Vol.19 • No. 10 • December 2009 / January 2010