Strong Canadian interest in Europe highlighted during ‘Gateway to Europe’ webinar
In partnership with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), HIDC hosted a successful Gateway to Europe webinar at the Canadian Embassy in The Hague on 17 March.
With over 140 participants—primarily Canadian SMEs—there was clear interest in exploring opportunities to diversify into the European market. The session highlighted how the Netherlands serves as a strategic and reliable entry point for companies looking to establish and scale their European operations.
Opening remarks by Senior Trade Commissioner Adam Barbolet underlined the strong and longstanding relationship between Canada and the Netherlands, as well as the country’s strengths in business climate, infrastructure, and supply chain connectivity. HIDC’s Justin Groen shared practical insights on setting up and optimising supply chains, while Eric de Bie (Greenberg Traurig) addressed key considerations around customs, VAT, and compliance. Stephanie Khurana (Netchem) provided a valuable real-life perspective, sharing her company’s expansion journey into Europe via the Netherlands.
The high level of engagement confirmed strong demand for guidance on topics such as compliance, import regulations, fiscal representation, and supply chain strategies.
We thank the Canadian Embassy and TCS for their collaboration—and look forward to future sessions.
Are you a North American company exploring expansion into Europe via the Netherlands? Feel free to reach out to Justin Groen to discuss your plans.
Justin Groen
Senior Business Development Manager – North America
