TOPIC: CORPORATE UPDATE
DATE: 02 June 2018
ACTION FOR YOU: READ OUR UPDATE & NEXT STEPS
As Founder of this Facebook Group and Co-Founder of “United Expats of The Netherlands” I’ve been relatively quiet over the last 4 weeks and asked other Council Members to step into the bright spotlight. This has been for one reason, and one reason only....
As many of you might already know, I’ve personally started to connect with the corporate world and its close partners and allies a few weeks back. These meetings require an integer, highly confidential, rational and trusting atmosphere. Some of you may refer to this approach as “discussions behind closed doors”. It has been a 24/7 ride on my end. Bottom line, nothing for the bright spotlight !!
So what have we achieved in the last 3-4 weeks?
Not only have we created a national network of Company Ambassadors to help us advocate our initiative and spread the word within major multi-national firms, but I‘ve also reached out to CEO’s and C-Level management of many companies in the Netherland. CEO’s have applauded us for “our impressive initiative”, and assured me personally that we have their full support. On top of that we have forged relationships and an information sharing process with major individual companies and their partnering organizations such as the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Dutch-German Chamber of Commerce (DNHK), Stichting Brainport Eindhoven, VCP, VNO-NCW, VSNU, and just in the last few days with Assocham (Indian Chamber of Commerce), Patagonia and WIPRO. It is probably fair to say that these organizations represent the fast majority of ALL corporations in the Netherlands. The great news about that? Everyone listed here, is sharing our concens and as a result is extremely supportive of our initiative !!
On behalf of our group, I also co-signed letters together with major organizations that were sent to the ministry of finance to encourage the government to stand by the deal they made with current recipients of the 30% tax ruling so that any change does not apply to existing expats. As a result of our overwhelming support and amazing relationship building process in just the last 3-4 weeks, I was deeply honored to see that Presidents, CEO’s and Top Representatives from AmCham, Brainport Eindhoven, DNHK, VCP, VNO-NCW, and VSNU personally (!) joined our petition handover in Den Haag earlier this week (please see picture below, which was taken outside the parliament prior to our petition handover afterwards)
Make no mistake, our trusted and confidential discussions with corporations, their partners and allies will continue over the coming weeks and months. Rest assured that every single Council Member will do everything humanly possible to swing the sentiment. We are ALL in this together. It’s our amazing teamwork that will make it happen. Trust me, our mission will go on !!
-Engelbert Felberthann