The Board in
Latin America
12
latin america
What's NewS Issue 3 March 1996
Presidential meetings in both Brazil
and Argentina were only two highlights of the bank's full Board of Directors'
fact-finding visit to our operations in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cura^ao.
Described as a huge success by all our people on the spot, the visit had a
number of aims. One priority was for the board to meet local Rabobankers and
gain increased insight into the markets and economies in which they work. In
addition, the whistle-stop tour also provided a perfect opportunity to bring
together clients and top management for high-level discussions. Dialogues were
initiated between major corporates and our board which, according to
Rabobankers in the region, have already paid off. What's NewS asks our people
in Latin America and Cura^ao for their impressions.
BRAZIL - LICENCE TO BANK
In Sao Paulo, the Board's arrival was
awaited in a state of intense anticipation.
'I think it would be fair to say we were all
highly motivated,' says our correspondent
Ahuva Belfer. 'Board chairman Herman
Wijffels was to officially inaugurate the
new bank and our new offices.' But before
Wijffels could do the honours for Raibo
do Brasil, he had an important
appointment to keep. President Cardoso
of Brazil had been instrumental in
granting Raibo's banking licence, and he
further honoured the bank by receiving,
Wijffels, Willem Meijer, Rik van
Slingelandt, Willy Castanheira and Teun
de Boon in audience.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
'We see this meeting as a token of the
contribution Raibo do Brasil had made to
the agri-sector in this country,' says De
Boon. 'Board members discussed
economie developments and the
Brasil: Mr. Antonio Cabrera State Secretary of Agriculture. Speech at opening
Raibo do Brasil
consequences of Mercosul with the
President and Minister of Finance Malan
before moving on to what the Brazilian
government expects from Raibo do Brasil.
It became clear these expectations are
high, especially in terms of agribusiness
finance. It was a lively discussion and
lasted twice as long as planned.'
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION
Fortunately for the organizers of the
Board's further program in Brazil,
everything else went according to plan
and Schedule. 'We'd arranged a number of
cliënt visits to major players here,' De
Boon confirms. 'These included names
like Holambra 1, Toepfer and Brahma.
Our relationships with existing clients
were already extremely good. Now we
are in a position to expand our range of
products, they can only improve. The
general feeling here in Sao Paulo is that
the Board's visit made a very valuable
contribution to our entry into the
Brazilian financial market.'
ARGENTINA - PRESIDENTIAL
RECEPTION
'In terms of cliënt response and
satisfaction,' says general manager Peter
Greenberg, 'the visit was very successful.
The marketplace has taken, and will
