Celebrating entrepreneurship worldwide and in The Netherlands
Friday November, 17th was the Day of the Entrepreneur (Dag van de Ondernemer) in the Netherlands. A day to celebrate entrepreneurship and to put entrepreneurs and their business in the spotlight. This is an initiative of MKB-Nederland, the Dutch association for small and medium-sized enterprises, on the occasion of the Global Entrepreneurship Week. During this week thousands of events and competitions in 160 countries take place. These inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and investors.
Enterprises are the engine behind economic growth. That’s why the Netherlands supports entrepreneurs in developing countries. By providing funding, advice and training entrepreneurs can start or grow their business. The Dutch support is mainly focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, with a focus on women and youth entrepreneurs. Furthermore, Dutch companies are encouraged to do business internationally, boosting local economies and sustainable trade with their innovative solutions.
Support for local entrepreneurs
An illustration of how the Netherlands supports entrepreneurship in developing countries is presented by our partner organization PUM Netherlands senior experts. In the Philippines PUM supports the company Puente Spina, by connecting Charita, the owner, to a Dutch expert. Charita learned how to better fertilize and cultivate the soil, and how to roast beans for a good quality of chocolate. What started as a piece of land with neglected trees, has now grown into a well-functioning cocoa farm annex chocolate factory. The exchange of knowledge and experience of Dutch experts with companies in developing countries helps to strengthen and grow businesses. If you want to read the whole story of family business Puente Spina, please take a look over here.
If you want more information about how the Netherlands supports entrepreneurship in developing countries, click here.