I am honored to present you with the fifth edition of the NL for World Bank newsletter on my first day as the newly appointed ambassador to the United States. As Ambassador-designate, I am keenly aware that the Embassy’s resort includes not only the 50 American states, but also the largest development bank in the world: the World Bank Group.

At first glimpse, the contrast between the work of the embassy’s World Bank team and the staff focused on the United States could hardly be starker, perhaps only exceeded by the contrast of the World Bank being a mere two blocks away from the White House.

On closer examination, however, the work of both teams overlaps more than one might expect. Whether the work involves health care, climate change, nutrition, infrastructure, living with water, education, or renewable energy, both the United States and the World Bank face similar challenges and have the same opportunities, needs, and desires – and so do our embassy teams.

The United States is known as the land of opportunity, but this is just as true for the World Bank Group. Over the years, many Dutch entrepreneurs have found their way to the WBG as consultant, contractor, or supplier. Our goal is to keep spreading the word about opportunities at the WBG, generate more interest from the Dutch private sector, and increase the number of contracts won.

Part of the reason we believe this can be achieved is the success of the NL4WorldBank blog and this newsletter. Having started just a year ago, the blog has been visited by thousands, and new tender information is read with great interest, resulting in much interaction with the WB team.

We challenge ourselves to provide the Dutch private sector and other Dutch stakeholders with the most accurate, relevant, and up-to-date information about the World Bank Group. We also invite you to challenge us further. How can we better assist you? What information do you need to be competitive in tenders? What regulatory constraints do you face that prevent you from winning more tenders?

Our WBG team, consisting of Bouk Berns and Vincent Kooijman, is looking forward to hearing your thoughts and working with you to address any issues.

I look forward to my assignment in the United States, and hope to meet you. I also hope to help you do business with the World Bank Group.

All the best,

Henne Schuwer
Ambassador-designate to the United States