Business Leaders Announce Land Sale for Breda Distribution Center to Open by 2006

BREDA, May 2004
Representatives from the City of Breda, Brabant Region and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency have completed negotiations with Abbott Laboratories, a broad-based health care company based in the United States, for the acquisition of 4.5 hectares (11.1 acres) of land in Breda.  Abbott is planning to construct a 23,000 square meter (250,000 square feet) distribution center at this location as part of the company’s plan to re-engineer its European distribution system.

Local business leaders expect Abbott’s Breda facility to start construction within the year, with completion scheduled by 2006.  This facility will be highly automated and will operate with approximately 100 employees comprised of warehouse and administrative positions, and will create approximately 135 construction-related, temporary positions in the surrounding area.

“The decision of Abbott to establish a large facility in Breda is an important signal that we are able to meet the critical factors which determine the location for companies, even companies of this magnitude,” said Mayor C. Rutten of Breda .  “Especially in a period in which we have to deal with a difficult economic climate, the choice for the Netherlands and, more specifically, Breda , is an important and positive achievement.  No doubt our excellent accessibility, our international character and the good level of labor and education contributed to the decision and our success.”

Mr. A. Adank, Breda ’s Alderman of Economic Affairs said, “After a long process of negotiations I am very happy with the achieved results. With Abbott, not only does the city get a new, large employer, but it will also positively effect other companies in Breda and the region.  Additionally, this establishment is an important signal to other potential investors.  From an economic point of view, with Abbott we undoubtedly strengthened the strategic international position of Breda .” 

According to Abbott officials, this new facility will be an advanced distribution center designed to serve as one of three European hubs for Abbott’s European distribution system.  As a result, the project will significantly increase Abbott’s ability to fulfill delivery of next-day orders for northern Europe .  The new distribution system will benefit customers by distributing products to European markets more efficiently and with improved service.

“Abbott’s decision to make this important investment in the Netherlands, clearly re-confirms the position of our country as the ‘Gateway to Europe’: a strategic location for many foreign companies setting up their pan-European businesses,” said Robert Schipper, executive director North America of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, a branch of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

According to Abbott, the company considered numerous locations throughout Europe, as well as several attributes of the Breda community when deciding to build the new distribution center at this location.  Breda’s close access to air and sea transportation, including proximity to key distribution points in northern Europe, helped company officials make the decision.

“The benefits from this new facility will be seen at many levels, including added jobs and increased economic activity in the area.  But more importantly, it will enhance the image of Breda as very important pharmaceutical logistics center,” said Richard l’Ami, director foreign investments of the Noord-Brabant Development Agency.

About the Netherland Foreign Investment Agency.

With offices in New York City , Boston , Chicago , Austin , San Mateo and Atlanta , NFIA has helped hundreds of North American companies initiate or expand operations in the Netherlands .  They have contributed to more than $37 billion in cumulative North American direct investment in the Netherlands , representing the direct creation of 140,000 jobs.  In all, more than 1,850 of more than 5,000 foreign companies in the Netherlands are from North America .  In 2003, the NFIA was involved in 104 new investment projects for foreign companies, 54 of which came from North America .