Investments in emerging economies are essential to strengthening our earning capacity, Melanie Maas Geesteranus, CEO of Invest International, writes.
A more resilient Netherlands
In the debate on building a more resilient Netherlands and maintaining our position among the world’s leading economies, the importance of investing in emerging markets is often underestimated. We need to be less inward-looking and embrace a robust trade model—one that is based on both give and take.
From industry to business organizations and politics, discussions about the Netherlands’ economic position and investment climate are everywhere. Our focus often lies on Dutch startups, scale-ups, and tech companies, rightly seen as engines of innovation and growth.
But the reflex to look inward—“we have enough to do here”—is too narrow. It creates the misconception that foreign trade and investment are less urgent and that we can cut billions from development cooperation. A regrettable misunderstanding. These investments strengthen our trade relations and reduce dependence on critical raw materials, essential for future resilience, earning power, and competitiveness.
International trade = prosperity
Our prosperity is deeply rooted in international trade, which accounts for around 2.6 million jobs in the Netherlands, which is about one-third of all jobs. According to CBS’s Trade Monitor 2025, foreign investments boost Dutch exports and employment. The Netherlands ranks among the world’s top five export countries. Each year, exports generate roughly €375 billion in net income, more than one-third of everything we earn. Trade also drives knowledge exchange, capital flows, and productivity, reinforcing business relationships.
The link between investing in emerging economies and Dutch prosperity is clear. Research by the University of Göttingen, commissioned by organizations including Cordaid, shows that every euro the Netherlands spends on development cooperation leads to an average of more than two euros in additional exports of goods and services.
The Netherlands has worked with emerging economies for centuries, sharing expertise in agriculture, water and infrastructure, coastal protection, and healthcare—often without asking much in return. In today’s “give-and-take” economy, we must rethink international trade and embrace reciprocity. Connecting the challenges of the Netherlands and Europe with those of strategic partners in emerging markets strengthens trade and strategic autonomy.
Globally, active industrial policy and protectionism are gaining ground. We are entering an era where targeted public investments in infrastructure and emerging economies are crucial. These investments foster sustainable development abroad and secure access to critical resources that are scarce in the Netherlands. They also open doors for Dutch companies to deploy their knowledge and expertise, boosting earning power and strengthening the influence of the Netherlands and Europe worldwide.
Global Gateway
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation’s “aid and trade” policy aligns with this approach, aiming to better position Dutch companies for international projects—through concessional loans on favorable terms and stronger links between funding and strategic Dutch interests. Another requirement is collaboration with Dutch companies or technology within projects. Aid and trade are intertwined and, when deployed effectively, deliver mutual growth.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative exemplifies this strategy, investing heavily in infrastructure to secure access to essential raw materials like lithium and copper. Europe offers an alternative: Global Gateway, an initiative to mobilize €300 billion by 2027 for sustainable, reliable infrastructure in partner countries—particularly in energy, transport, digital connectivity, health, and education. It’s about development, strategic autonomy, climate resilience, and fair partnerships.
Lobito Corridor
A concrete Global Gateway example is the Lobito Corridor, an infrastructure project creating a railway between the port of Lobito in Angola and the mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This corridor strengthens exports of critical raw materials such as copper and cobalt—indispensable for the energy transition and digital technologies. By giving these countries access to global markets via the Atlantic Ocean, the project also promotes regional integration, economic development, and stability in Southern Africa, reducing dependency on China.
The Netherlands is involved in the Lobito Corridor through Invest International, which has pledged over €100 million in infrastructure investments. Work is underway on a logistics platform to facilitate trade, strengthen EU–Angola relations, secure critical raw material supply, and showcase Dutch expertise in logistics and corridor development.
Photo: picture taken at the AU-EU Summit 2025 for the first trial e-certified container of avocados via the Lobito Corridor to Rotterdam.
Our future & Dutch business
In short: do not view development cooperation and investments in emerging economies as expenses, but as indispensable investments in our future and in Dutch business. They enhance economic resilience, open new markets, strengthen competitiveness, and promote global stability. Cutting these budgets undermines the Netherlands. Only through strategic cooperation, where aid and trade go hand in hand, we can create a future that is richer, more resilient, and more sustainable.
