Dear colleagues
EDITORIAL
You may have noticed the new title and cover design
of this magazine. For years The Word' has stood as a
communication channel that informed RI's global staff
on all sorts of developments. In particuiar, across the
past two years, the magazine has developed a stronger
in-depth content focus on key Rabobank themes. It has
become an important means to communicate globally,
and this importance is reflected in its readership.
Alongside our Rl network, Rl World is now also delivered
to the senior management of the Dutch member banks
and the boardrooms of Rabobank subsidiaries. The more
in-depth content and expanded reach are reasons
for changing the title of this magazine to 'Rl World'
- a title we feel better communicates the magazine's
evolved purpose and meaning, while playing on the title
of its predecessor. We hope you like it.
'Market leadership in the Netherlands' is the main
theme of this edition. According to the Rabobank
Group Strategie Framework 2009- 2012, Dutch market
leadership is an objective that applies to all Rabobank
businesses operating in our home country. For Rabobank
International, it means capturing the leadership position
in the Dutch wholesale market. Rabobank's reputation
remains after the crisis that of a stable bank. More than
ever, we have the opportunity to leverage this position
to claim leadership and to extend our reputation by
creating true cliënt intimacy at boardroom level. This is
how we will further cement our position as the first bank
to call when clients have a business opportunity.
Achieving this kind of intimacy is a key element in
both our Dutch and international wholesale and rural
retail banking strategies. This client-driven approach
will enable us to capture the leadership we aspire. We
already have the financial strength, the people, the
resources and a significant sector and financial markets
know-how in house. Now it's about leveraging this full
potential to make the real difference to our clients.
Our ambitions in Netherlands are closely connected
with our ambitions abroad. Our international wholesale,
rural and retail banking network is well-equiped to serve
both our Dutch clients who have ambitions abroad
and international F&A clients globally. Take for example
how our International Desk in Milan recently helped
Rabobank Maashorst's cliënt Coolcorn in financing
their greenhouse project in the Latina region (part of
the Lazio region) in central Italy. Although Italian banks
were considered for the deal, they were not able to
deliver the advice and products that Rabobank could.
Another great example is that of Rabobank Westland's
client Westfalia, one of the largest avocado suppliers in
the world. Rabobank was able to help them acquire UK
fruit and vegetable supplier Greencell through suberb
teamwork between Rl London, International Services
and Dutch member bank Rabobank Westland. Not
only did this collaboration result in a successful and
satisfactory deal for all stakeholders, it also created cross-
sell opportunities for Rl because through this take-over,
Westfalia is now in the position to intensify its European
business activities. Great opportunities surface in the
fields of Cash Management, FX, Trade Finance and
M&A.
Examples like these show the strength of our international
network, covering 30 countries (Rabo Development and
Rabo Foundation countries excluded) worldwide with
in-depth research, market advice and a solid product
offering. Let's be clear about this strength to our
stakeholders and offer them the added value. We hope
that 'Rl World' can support you in this. Keep up the good
work.
Sipko Schat Berry Marttin
Executive Board member Executive Board member
ISSUE 23 MAY 2010 Rl WORLD 3