Background
Trade, investment & information technology are exploding across borders and are overwhelming governments’ ability to provide social safety nets and public services to cushion the impact on people. As government programs recede, they have to become more effective in addressing such issues as education and the environment.
International businesses have a great stake at social stability and economic progress. International corporations are conscious of their limitations. They cannot substitute for governments, but they can participate in public private partnerships to improve the standard of living in the community. The long-term social investment in our communities is a matter of central concern to our Partners.
Netherlands businesses in America employ over 600,000 Americans and remain the world’s fourth largest investor in the United States. These investments are made by 300 Dutch parent companies, owning more than 800 businesses in the United States.
The United States has a unique and long lasting tradition of corporate social responsibility, where companies, through public private partnerships, address some of the nations most pressing human and social needs. Corporations, individuals and government agencies participate in and support well run public private partnerships who truly reach out to those “in need” in a very effective way. These programs and our collective experiences in the United States are most worthy of implementation in the Netherlands, where youth unemployment and high school drop out rates are unacceptably high.
The United States is the largest foreign investor in the Netherlands, with over 1500 American companies operating in Holland. The Netherlands based headquarter companies of our partners have embarked on the creation and implementation of an outreach program in Holland’s 20 largest cities to encourage students to complete high school, go on to college, and become productive citizens.
