SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Global contribution
Active approach
what's going on and how their
customers may need help. And rhey
need to ensure that knowledge gets back
to us here at R1AS. On the other hand,
the offices need to know how RIAS can
aid them and we are working on ways
to improve our communication.'
'The strategy behind RIAS is to create
win-win situarions for those in need of
advice as well as for Rabobank,' adds
Chairman Rik van Slingelandt. 'RIAS
performs the same function as the
well-known consultants McKinsey and
Boston Consultancy Group albeit on a
more modest scale, which appeals more
to our cliënt group. RIAS is a small
organization doing big things on a
global scale and it's important that all
Rabobank employees, especiallv those
out there in the local offices, are aware
of the ways in which we can and do
contribute to agribusiness worldwide.' H
For more information about how RIAS
can help in your local marketplease
check www.rahohank.com/rias or con
tact the team on RIAS@rn.rahohank.nl
Rik van Slingelandt - agribusiness advice
(Below) Gerard van Empel - the right recipe
cases, business opportunities are cre-
ated, such as in Poland where RIAS
helped to establish a bank. This bank
was subsequently taken over by
Rabobank, giving birth to Rabobank
Poland. Continues Van Empel: 'RIAS
also works without formal projects or
assignments, enabling us to increase
Rabobank's visibility in the market as
well as sharing our know how.' To-
gether with the local office in China,
RIAS provided information to China's
Central Bank about how Dutch cooper-
ative banks are governed. This im-
proved the relationship with the Central
Bank which is essential for any future
strategie moves in the region.
Projects are suggested by organizations
such as The World Bank, International
Finance Corporation (IFC) and Dutch
and local governntents. However RIAS
also relies on the local Rabobank offices
to bring potential projects within their
markets to its attention. 'It's crucial that
communication channels remain open,'
says Van Empel. 'The people in local
offices know their own markets, know
26 I The Word I
