WASHINGTON, June 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
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The economic ties between the Netherlands and the US keep growing stronger, a new digital report by the Royal Netherlands Embassy shows. Dutch companies increased their direct investment in the American economy to $275 billion in 2012, up $35 billion from the previous year. In the same period, American companies grew their investment in the Netherlands to $645 billion, an increase of $50 billion, and the trade of goods and services between the US and the Netherlands increased to nearly $90 billion, up $9 billion.
The economic relationship between the Netherlands and the US, which marks its 400-year anniversary this fall, supported 685,000 American jobs in 2012. The Netherlands is a fixture in the top 5 of the largest foreign investors in the US, and maintains its place as the No. 1 destination for American investments.
Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink will present the new numbers during the first Holland on the Hill Heineken Award ceremony on Friday, June 20. Dr. Werner Vogels, chief technology officer of Amazon and a native of the Netherlands, is the first recipient of the award that celebrates entrepreneurial spirit and lauds contributions to the Dutch-American economic ties.
Texas is again the strongest economic partner of the Netherlands among the 50 states. The state leads the nation with 95,000 jobs supported by Dutch-US trade and investment. It was also the biggest exporter to the Netherlands, sending $9.6 billion in goods and services across the ocean. California came in second with 58,000 jobs supported by the Dutch-American economic ties and $4.3 billion exports to the Netherlands. Readers can navigate the interactive map to see the Dutch economic footprint in every American state and virtually every sector.
"This report shows again that the relationship between the Netherlands and the US simply works," said Remco Zeeuw, Minister of the Economic Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy. "To put the numbers in perspective, the jobs that are supported by our mutual trade and investments, 685,000, are enough to employ all the active members of the US Army. I think that is an amazing number, and it shows the strength of the Dutch economy and of Dutch entrepreneurs and investors."
Ambassador Rudolf Bekink: "Our economic ties are but another example of what binds our two nations together, building upon our shared values of open mindedness, tolerance, freedom of religion and speech, and entrepreneurship."
The economic ties report also shows a sizable number of Americans who are of Dutch descent. More than 4.6 million Americans have Dutch ancestors, with the largest populations of Dutch-Americans living in Michigan, California and New York.
Minister Remco Zeeuw is available for interviews to discuss Economic Ties . Media should contact Carla Bundy at 202-274-2632 or Ilse van Overveld at 202-274-2630.
For more than 400 years, the Netherlands and the United States have been joined by the values of freedom, justice and an entrepreneurial spirit. A vibrant economic force, the Netherlands is a fixture in the top 5 of largest investors in the US and maintains the number one destination for American foreign investments. The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dutch Consulates General and Honorary Consuls in the U.S. promote strong bilateral relations between the United States and the Netherlands in the areas of peace and stability; international law; energy and climate; water management; international human rights; and creative industries. The Netherlands and the United States: a partnership that works.
More information: www.economicties.org
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Ilse van Overveld or Carla Bundy Public Diplomacy, Press and Culture department 202-274-2630 or (c) 202-413-5020 202-274-2632 or (c) 202-413-9786 Skype Account: PressOfficerDutchEmbassyDC
