On Wednesday 28 March the third edition of the nlgroeit jaarevent will take place. During this event an overview of the 250 fastest growing Dutch companies will be presented. Queen Maxima is present and speaks at the award ceremony of the ‘Golden Grower’ about the importance of growth of small businesses for employment and innovation. She will also talk to the entrepreneurs present.
Nlgroeit is a long-term programme created by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the Chamber of Commerce and NLevator to increase the growth capacity of SMEs. Attention is paid to coaching, mentoring, capital and networks. This gives entrepreneurs with growth ambitions the opportunity to meet top entrepreneurs.
Queen Maxima is a member of the Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship and Finance. This Committee was established by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate and is committed to strengthening the growth potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Research by the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) and the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) shows in which sectors and regions the fastest growing Dutch companies are active and what their impact on the Dutch economy is.
From 2013 to 2017, 250 companies together created more than 16,000 jobs. The company that created the most jobs last year will receive the ‘Golden Grower’ on 28 March.
This year, Nlgroeit has chosen SugarFactory as the location for its annual event. The industrial history of the former sugar factory now provides the backdrop for the growing companies of the future. On behalf of SugarFactory, Luigi Prins, director of the Cobraspen Group and owner of the SugarCity site, will welcome Queen Maxima to the former sugar factory. He will form the reception committee together with State Secretary Mona Keijzer, Pieter Zwart (CEO Coolblue) and Harold Goddijn (CEO TomTom).
During the annual event, those present will be informed about the new growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. The importance of this is also underlined by the presence of the King’s Commissioner, Mr Remkes and the Mayor, Mr Heiligers. The more than 300 attendees will then discuss these growth opportunities and how CEOs from different companies can coach or mentor new innovative and growing companies. After the presentation of the Golden Grower, these discussions are translated into concrete agreements for more growth, innovation and employment during the networking drinks.
For example, this annual event of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the Chamber of Commerce and NLevator contributes to further economic development in the Netherlands.