The core mission of the Alberta Netherlands Trade Office is to establish trade activities between Alberta and the Netherlands.

The ANTO sees many opportunities for Dutch companies to settle or do business in Alberta. Alberta is a province with a low population density (5.38 per km2). It is known for the many natural resources it shelters. Alberta’s largest sectors are hydrocarbon (oil and gas), forestry, and agriculture. Consequently, the province offers many opportunities for the export of, or projects related to, these resources.

The strength of the businesses in the Netherlands lies in their ability to add value to products. The Dutch are known for their expertise on a variety of areas, such as agriculture, bio-energy, environment (including water management and soil remediation), transportation, infrastructure (and reclamation), energy development, and healthcare. These areas of expertise are valuable for Alberta. Moreover, the Dutch are recognized for their efficient and effective way of organizing.

It is for those reason the ANTO sees a lot of prospect in getting Dutch companies to do business in Alberta. The Albertan commodities and the Dutch trade mentality together are an excellent combination. As the Netherlands Trade Office in Alberta, we take the lead in setting up this combination. Our main task is creating business opportunities in Alberta for Dutch companies. To do so, presentations, fair markets, and trade missions are held, which can lead to business projects.

Increasing Awareness
An important element of creating these trade activities is increasing awareness between Alberta and the Netherlands. We are established in Alberta and originate from the Netherlands; therefore, we are familiar in both worlds. Although there are many similarites between Alberta and the Netherlands, most Albertans know very little about the Netherlands, and most Dutchmen know little of Alberta. It is important to the ANTO that (potential) business partners in Alberta and the Netherlands are informed about each other, and we will work with companies to provide insight into both worlds.

Link between parties
The main role of the ANTO is to operate as a link between companies, organizations and governments. We initiate contact between various parties within Alberta and the Netherlands to ensure your company representative is connected to the right person, at the right moment, in the right place. This is often done by means of a trade mission. A trade mission is a trade delegation of at least one company that explores their business opportunities in Alberta. The Trade Office wants to make sure that the only thing your company representative has to worry about during a trade mission is doing business. We will take care of bringing you to the right place to get you in touch with the right people.

Follow ups
After initiating contact between parties, perhaps the most important part of the trade activity is yet to come: the follow up. The ANTO helps companies initiate business activities and establishes follow ups to allow these activities to evolve in long term relationships. We are here to assist businesses in stimulating cooperation for the long run.