Op dinsdag 17 juni 2008, heeft burgemeester Cohen een toespraak gehouden tijdens de opening van het Expatcentrum in Amsterdam. Hier vindt u de gehele toespraak.
Op dinsdag 17 juni 2008, heeft burgemeester Cohen een toespraak gehouden tijdens de opening van het Expatcentrum in Amsterdam. Hier vindt u de gehele toespraak.
Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Welcome in this brand new Expatcenter Amsterdam Area. This is something to be truly proud of, for a number of reasons.
In the first place – the incredible speed that this project came about.
Only half a year ago, during a meeting of alderman Lodewijk Asscher, myself and the State Secretary of Justice Ms. Albayrak, we made plans for this Expatcenter. And here we are today.
Secondly – the uniqueness of it in the Netherlands. This is the very first real ‘one stop shop’ for incoming expats in this country. I can truly say that I am proud to host it in Amsterdam, at this prime location.
Thirdly – the remarkable cooperation in getting it all done. Three ambitious partners – the IND, the city of Amstelveen and the city of Amsterdam – were able to think beyond their own immediate interest. Three organizations convinced of the need to put the expats’ interest first. It took a small group of people with a vision, and the courage to actually ‘just do it’.
Today we celebrate the result of this collaborative effort. In a few moments, the first residency permits expatcenter style will be handed out by the State Secretary for Justice, Ms Albayrak. Of course the municipal registrations have been taken care of today as well – as it should be in a ‘one stop shop’.
The official opening is today. But the doors and telephones have been open for two weeks now. And all the reactions we received have been the same – and I read from some e-mails we got:
‘’Finally! A one stop shop! It should have been there a long time ago!”
“Thank you for this wonderful initiative! When can our company join?”
There has been a real need for an expat ‘one stop shopping’ desk for quite some time now. This need is also felt outside of the Amsterdam Area region. So we hope to be setting the stage for the establishment of more Expatcenters of this kind, in other places in the Netherlands.
In the present setup, an incoming high skilled migrant gets his residency permit, municipal registration and BSN number in one go.
And that is only the beginning of the service package we want to provide. In the coming months, the Expatcenter will work towards an expansion of its clientele and services. It will also seek further regional cooperation. During the present ‘test phase’, some 15 companies are working with us to improve the set-up and procedure. Our common goal is to open up the new procedure in September to all knowledge migrants coming to the Amsterdam Area, and to an even broader clientele in 2009.
Some may call it a dream. But I call it something we just have to do. Why? Because it is essential to our efforts to improve the investment climate of our city and region that our foreign workers feel that they are most welcome here.
Of course, we can only make this a true success if we are willing to grow and improve together. I count on my two partners here, Amstelveen and the IND, and on us to continue to do just that.
I now give the floor to the mayor of Amstelveen, Jan van Zanen.