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2 What's NewS Issue 9 October/November 1999
FAR's Adrie Zwanenberg is currently in
Beijing wherc he will be giving a pre-
scntation to China's agro-processing
industry on the Dutch dairy sector and the
role of cooperatives. The invitation camc
from the OECD's directorate for food,
agriculture and fisheries. 'This is the first
time we have been invited bv such an ex-
ternal body to speak at one of their con
ferences,' says Zwanenberg. 'We are really
pleased with this opportunity for a num-
ber of reasons. One, it means we are rec-
ognized by such organizations as experts
in the F&A field. The second is we will be
the only bank at the conference which
opens up all kinds of possibilitics for mar-
keting.'Our own peoplc in China have not
let the opportunity pass. Zwanenberg will
also be making an in-company presenta-
tion on dairy and general farming to 15
government officials from all over the
People's Republic. Subsequently, during a
brief stop over in Hong Kong, he will also
demonstrate FAR expertise for staff there.
It is now almost two years since RI
hosted a global sustainable development
conference as our part in the centenary
celebrations. Although you ntay not have
heard much about the subject since then,
it remains a high priority within the
Rabobank organization. From next year,
we will be incorporating our own sustain-
ability efforts into the Group annual
report. Our Sustainable Development de-
partmcnt has just produced a semi-public
document on progress to date in this im
portant field. It comprises a full report of
a dedicated conference held for 200 mem-
ber bank and Rabobank Nederland man
agers. In addition, it offers an overview of
'green' Rabobank products and other
items of interest. In Dutch only, unfortu-
nately - but more info is available from
Bart Jan Krouwel on +31 30 216 3524.
The last few months have been a time
of natural and man-made disasters -
after Turkey, Taiwan was hit by an earth-
quake, Japan suffered a nuclear accident
and now Mexico has been swantped by
massive flooding. Fortunately, all our peo
plc have come through the natural disas
ters unharmed. Our Tokyo office opened
for business as usual, although there was
somc disruption due to lack of transporta-
tion. Two of our people who live closest
to the reactor are currently under medical
supervision. Parents and teachers tended
to keep kids indoors for a few days, but
overall the situation is now quite norrnal.
'Obviously, we were all very conccrned, m
especially our peoplc with children,' says^
Freek Hoek. 'We received a lot of calls
and messages from people around the
world. It seems that CNN and other news
agencies made the event a little bigger
than it actually was.'
We have a full two-page update on
the millennium situation - the regu-
lar column returns next nionth.
If you have a question you would like
answered then let us know.
As announced in the July/August issue of
What's NewS, we will be launching a
new series in November.
This is your chance to find out that elusive
fact you have always wanted to know. It
can be on (almost) any topic (anonymously
if you prefer). We will do our best to find
answers for you.
The 'almost' has been added here because
we feel questions should be work,
organization, and/or business related.
Send your questions by e mail to:
Mirjam Diepenbrock of Marketing, or if you
want to remain anonymous to Anne
Lavelle at The Write Company,
writeco@euronet.nl
O Our new bead of
Rabo Treasury,
John Geensen,
KM spent more than 20
years in senior po-
sitions at Citibank,
Lehman Brothers
and Bank of Amer
ica before joining
major competitor
ABN Amro as UK regional treasurer. His
extensive career has taken him to various
locations worldwide, including London,
Masthead
Amsterdam, New York, Houston and Los
Angeles. Married with two children and
based in the UK, he moved to Rabobank
International in July. First impressions
are that we have enormous talent in the
bank. 'I can say that because of my expe-
rience with such players as ABN Amro,
Citi and Chemical Bank, now Chase.
And we also have an outstanding product
range. It stands against anything the
competition is doing.For more on how
Geensen plans to move Rabo Treasury
ahead, see pages 3 through 7.
Editorial Staff
Coordination Mirjam Diepenbrock, Marketing Rl
Managing Editor Anne Lavelle
(The Write Company)
Editors David Brown, Naomi Lindt
Distribütion Len Fraser
Editorial Address
Rabobank International Marketing, UC B652
P.O.Box 17100,3500 HG Utrecht
Telephone +31 (0)30 216 2433.
Telefax +31 (0)30 2161976
Rabomail
mirjam.diepen broek'» utc.rabobank.com
Design tbc write coin/mm, .Amsterdam
Lithography Zetterij Niek van Dijk, Amsterdam
Printing Drukkerij Cliteur bv, Amsterdam
Please send address changes by e mail to
Mirjam Diepenbrock, Marketing Rl
What's NewS is complimentary for internal staff.
Rabobank Group yearly subscription price, NLG 125
