global conference
Stamp of success
Enormous investment
Visionary?
6 What'sNewS Issueó-June 1998
Creating a discussion platform
told conference. 'The methodologies and
technologies which have grown up as the
20th century advanced have brought us
prosperity and progress. But much of
that will not be tenable in the longer
term. The reason is simple. Many of
these technologies are deteriorating the
planet by exhausting resources and
polluting the environment. If we do not
introducé a sustainable orientation in our
consumption and production, then we
will be deteriorating life itself.' He went
on to demonstrate that the pursuit of
sustainable development was no Utopian
ideal, but rather a necessity if producers
were to continue producing.
He also saw a role here for Rabobank.
'Our customers will have to make the
transformation to sustainable production
and consumption,' he argued. 'It will be
our job to support them in that
As awareness of the urgency of
sustainable development increases, and itf
will increase as resources become scarcer
and thus more expensive, people will
also judge corporates increasingly on
their attitudes to people and planet as
well as profit. The single bottom line will
be overtaken by the triple - economie
development, social justice and
environmental sustainability. If the bank
proves as visionary as this conference
appears to indicate, then once again we
may be setting course for a hugely
successful future, just as our predecessors
did 100 years ago.
transformation through the provision of
financial products and advisory services.
In addition, the expansion of production
to meet increasing consumer demand,
especially in food and agribusiness, will
have to take place according to
sustainable principles. This will require
enormous investments in research,
information, irrigation, new production
methods, storage, processing, etc.
It is our vocation to make financial
resources available worldwide for these
kind of projects.'
Andreas Reinhart, chairman Volkart Brothers
Holding, Switzerland: 'Banks and insurers are
really in a position to move things along - it's
important they take initiatives like this.
We need more.'
Vera Minten, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature
Management and Fisheries, the Netherlands:
'The financial world definitely needs a change in
mindset. However, l'm af raid that it will take a
complex mix of factors to push that change. When it
proves to be profitable, we'll see the whole financial
industry rush to get on the gravy train.'
To demonstrate Rabobank's position in the
Netherlands, more than 8 million Rabobank
centenary postage stamps will be distributed by the
Dutch national postal service from mid May. According
to RN executive board member Paul Burghouts, 'we are
proud that the Dutch Post Office has recognized the
significance of Rabobank in Dutch society and has
decided to join us in celebrating our centenary.' As a
reminder of our 100 years, a set of the commemorative
centenary stamps are distributed with this issue.
RN executive board member
Paul Burghouts
For more details on our global
conference, see the centenary 'Teamplay
special' included in our July issue. And,
in case you missed the conference, it is
possible to obtain the information given
by ordering the study 'Sustainability',
which also includes interviews with the
conference speakers.
Please contact Wil van der Tuuk at
Rl marketing (tel. +31 30 216 28 04).
