Most awesome country in the world

COLOMBIAOceans of Opportunities

Economics and Business student Faculty associationInternational Business Research

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From left to right: Melvin de Vries (Vice-Chairman/Treasurer), Jenny Bekkering (PR/Travel

Coordinator), Samy Lounis (Chairman), Alex Crick (External Relations), Gioia Nijenhuis

(External Relations)

Photo: Danny Dutch ©

Introducing International Business Research Colombia 2013

Emerging markets play a critical role in major issues faced by today’s business organizations. With the increasing importance of developing economies, Dutch businesses and non-profit organizations are increasingly focusing on non-European emerging economies.

The increasing demand for in-depth knowledge of unknown markets raises the need to conduct tailor-made market research.

International Business Research (IBR) is the largest and longest running research project of its kind in the Netherlands. For over 20 years we have been organizing independent research projects, focusing on emerging markets all over the world. Through ongoing and intensive collaboration with experienced business people, IBR offers you high quality research performed by carefully selected top students, at cost price.

IBR Colombia is dedicated to offer you the best possible research in order to gain insights in the promising Colombian market.

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What we offer

IBR Colombia offers your company tailor-made, professional research at cost price. We have the capabilities to investigate organizations and markets in an objective manner and provide you with specific knowledge about Colombia. The research will be performed in close collaboration with contracting companies to make sure it will be customized to your needs.

General Preparation Phase

Reporting Phase

Specific Research Phase

In this phase, students’ knowledge of Colombia, market research and methodological research will be improved.

During this phase, the specific needs of your company will be thoroughly examined. Also, the set-up of the research, the preliminary research and the field research in Colombia will be done.

The last phase will consist of completing the research. Results will be presented to your company in a final research report. Results will be handled confidentially.

Our Strengths

• Tailor-made,professionalresearchatcostprice • Over20yearsofresearchexperience

• Fourmonthsofintensivepreparationby25topquality students

• Supervisedbytwoseniorprofessorsofthe University of Groningen and our advisory board

• Opportunitytogetintocontactwithtopqualitystudents

Research Opportunities

• CommercialActivities• CompetitorAnalysis• ConsumerBehavior• DistributionAnalysis• FeasibilityResearch• Import-andExportAnalysis• SectorAnalysis• Outsourcing

On request, other research proposals can be offered.

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tyWhy Colombia?

Withanimpressiveeconomicgrowthof5.7%in2011,Colombiaisoneofthethreemostimportant countries dedicating to current Latin-American growth. Its ideal geographical location combined with a promising demographic growth perspective offers the potential for much more. With the country opening up to tourism and foreign investment, Colombia is turning into an investment hotspot. Moreover, the Dutch government recently changed Colombia’s status from a developing to a transition economy. Multinationals, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises in the Netherlands are recognizing this high potential, as they are starting to lay eye on Colombia. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Colombia has been chosen as the country of focus for the International Business Researchprojectof2013.

Interesting Sectors of Colombia

Watermanagement -In2011,theColombia-NetherlandsWaterPartnership(CNWP)hasbeen established. The goal of this partnership is to assist Colombia in becoming a transition economy, stimulate economic activity for the Dutch water sector and to protect its people for floods on a long-term level.Infrastructure - High economic growth supported by a strong backing from the Colombian government, will result in an increase in the country’s infrastructure industry withanexpectedannualaveragerealgrowthofjustbelow6%between2012and2021.Agribusiness - This sector offers many opportunities for broad agricultural and farming investments due to the favorable weather conditions. In addition, the government stimulates this sector through tax cuts and many international trade agreements. Especially the large floricultural sector offers many possibilities for Dutch companies.

Other sectors with high potential• Oil and Gas• Sustainable Energy• Environmental Technology• Food Processing

• Textile- and Clothing• Mining• Automotive Industry• Machinery

Please visit www.ibr-groningen.nl, for more detailed information about these sectors.Inte

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ABN Amro Bank N.V.Acquion AEGON Akzo NobelAlphatron Capgemini Nederland Coram International Deloitte Douwe Egberts

Heineken IHC HollandIMD ING Group Kleyn International NefitPeijnenburg GroupPrescanRabobank

DSM Elsevier EVD Fair Trade Organization FGMFMO Friesland Foods Fugro Havenbedrijf Rotterdam

Randstad Royal Philips ElectronicsRoyal P&O NedlloydRoyal VopakSBM Smit InternationaleSHV Holdings Stop Aids Now Talent&Pro

“IBR has focused on the characteristics of the agricultural market of Argentina (2009) and Brazil (2010),andprovideduswithvaluableintelligenceaboutthemarketofconveyorbeltsinthesecountries, which are key to our growth strategy. It was a great pleasure to work with these highly enthusiastic students, who came well prepared and were very committed to the task.”J. Huisman

General Director - EA Broekema

“In2007,MeetInorganizedatripfortheDutchpoultrysectortoBrazil.IBRpreparedaperfectstudy on the possibilities for Dutch companies and used their time in Brazil to introduce us and our trip to all relevant contacts and institutions. The students were of high quality, highly independent and very responsible and committed to deliver the best results. We enjoyed working with them, and are very content on the results. Therefore, I would like to recommend IBR to all entepreneurs who want to explore their possibilities in emerging markets, and who enjoy working with a young and dedicated team of high potentials!“Drs. D.T. Aleven

Director - MeetIn B.V.

“The students have identified very skillfully the opportunities for the export of used commercial vehicles into Brazil. As a result, Kleyn will further strenghten its market leadership as independent company in the trade of used commercial vehicles.”Paul J. Overakker

Former CEO Kleyn International

Over the years IBR has conducted research for over 150 organizations, including;

Over the years IBR has conducted research for over 150 organizations, including:

Drs. D.T. AlevenPartnerMeetIn B.V.

Dhr. J.T. BestebreurtjePresident NLABCNCH

J. van BreeChairmanIBR2012Brazil

Drs. J.B. BrounenSenior Officer Economic Affairs & Corporate Social ResponsibilityRoyal Netherlands Embassy Bogotá

Mr. P.J.K. BrouwerVP Customer Facing, Enhancement MSD-AHBestuurslid FENEDEXMSD-AH

Drs. P.J.F. CoerkampDirector/Co-FounderRoyal Oil B.V.

Dr. D.C. FaberDirectorFaber Management

Dr. J.H. GarretsenFaculty DeanProfessor of International Economics & Busi-ness University of Groningen

H. HartgersConsultant International BusinessDutch Chamber Commerce Rotterdam

E.F.H.J. JanssenManaging DirectorE&M ExportManagement B.V.

Corina KerkmansProgram Manager Transition Facility ColombiaNL EVD International

Mr. F.J.M. KevenaarManaging DirectorWärtsilä Netherlands B.V.

Msc. Cint KortmannCEOTalent&Pro Ltd.

MA J. KreeftManaging DirectorEnergyWise

Dhr. S.A. KuipersSales ManagerLPF Flexible Packaging

Ing. L.H. LuitjensChief of Civil Engineering DepartmentARCADIS Nederland B.V.

Casper PieperGlobal Director Vegoils & BiofuelsKoninklijke Vopak N.V.

C.J. RutteGeneral ManagerThe Mild Coffee Company NV

Ing. M. SmitsManaging DirectorEngineering and Consultancy Services Oranjewoud

Mw. S.E. van UdenInt. Consultant Latin AmericaTrade & Development Cooperation

Mw. M. ValentienRelationship Manager FIEM Americas & Southern EuropeRabobank International

Marc van der LeeDirector Corporate CommunicationsVION Food Group

C. van VlietManaging Director / OwnerHorticonsult Global Partners B.V.

A.P.H. VergroesenManaging DirectorIRO

P.H.J. Verlinden Manager International DepartmentKoninklijke Metaalunie

Drs. E.M. WallerHead of High Growth MarketsKPMG

J.J.G.M. van WissenManaging DirectorLatin America Trade & Investment Promotion

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Dhr. S.A. KuipersSales ManagerLPF Flexible Packaging

Ing. L.H. LuitjensChief of Civil Engineering DepartmentARCADIS Nederland B.V.

Casper PieperGlobal Director Vegoils & BiofuelsKoninklijke Vopak N.V.

C.J. RutteGeneral ManagerThe Mild Coffee Company NV

Ing. M. SmitsManaging DirectorEngineering and Consultancy Services Oranjewoud

Mw. S.E. van UdenInt. Consultant Latin AmericaTrade & Development Cooperation

Mw. M. ValentienRelationship Manager FIEM Americas & Southern EuropeRabobank International

Marc van der LeeDirector Corporate CommunicationsVION Food Group

C. van VlietManaging Director / OwnerHorticonsult Global Partners B.V.

A.P.H. VergroesenManaging DirectorIRO

P.H.J. Verlinden Manager International DepartmentKoninklijke Metaalunie

Drs. E.M. WallerHead of High Growth MarketsKPMG

J.J.G.M. van WissenManaging DirectorLatin America Trade & Investment Promotion

Drs. D.A. Benschop President Shell Nederland B.V.

Dr. P.A.M. Berdowski CEORoyal Boskalis Westminster N.V.

J.F.M.L. Van Boxmeer CEO & Chairman Executive BoardHeineken N.V.

H.W. Broeders Member Executive Committee Capgemini S.A.Capgemini

Prof. Dr. R.J.M. Dassen, RA CEODeloitte Holding B.V.

Mr. H.H.J. Dijkhuizen, RA Chairman Board of ManagementKPMG Netherlands

P.C. Van Gelder MSc CEON.V. Nederlandse Gasunie

Drs. C.C. ‘t Hart CEOFrieslandCampina

Drs. F.A. Van Houten President & Chairman Board of ManagementKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

Drs. M.E. Hulshof Director Business Line BuildingsRoyal HaskoningDHV

Drs. P.J.A.M. Jongstra RA Managing PartnerErnst & Young Nederland en België

Drs. N.C. Jue CEO ING Nederland

Prof. Dr. K.H.W. Knot PresidentDe Nederlandsche Bank N.V.

Drs. G.J. Lankhorst CEO Gasterra

Mr. B.J. Marttin MBA Member of the Executive BoardRabobank Nederland

B.J. Noteboom CEO & Chariman of the Executive BoardRandstad Holding N.V.

Prof. Dr. A.H.G. Rinnooy Kan PresidentSocial and Economic Council of the Netherlands

Drs. W.J. Prinsen Managing Director BeneluxTNT Express

J.P. RehwinkelMayor of GroningenCity of Groningen

Drs. F. Sijbesma CEO & Chairman Managing BoardRoyal DSM N.V.Supervisory Board of DNB

Prof. Dr. E. Sterken Rector MagnificusUniversity of Groningen

Prof. Dr. G.T. Timmer CFOORTEC

Drs. Sj. S. Vollebregt CEO & ChairmanStork B.V. and Fokker B.V.B

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International Business Research Colombia 2013

Faculty of Economics and BusinessUniversity of Groningen

Nettelbosje 29747 AE Groningen

The Netherlands

T: +31 (0)50 363 9488E: colombia@ibr-groningen.nl

For further information please visit our website:www.ibr-groningen.nl