Strategy abroad: global food agri bank
Rabobank International
Wholesale banking
International retail banking
The goals of the Rabobank 2010 project, which was started in 2007, are to increase the
commercial effectiveness of the local Rabobanks further, to serve customers better and
faster and to increase efficiency. In doing so, Rabobank anticipates on changing market and
client needs, while at the same time ensuring its long-term continuity. With the Rabobank
2010 project, Rabobank will remain a bank that excels in both service level and speed of
response. Much use will be made of the integration of all modern distribution channels,
including the websites of the local Rabobanks, RaboTV and Rabo Mobiel. Finally, Internet
concepts such as Bizner and Freo are aimed at target groups that were previously more
difficult to reach for the local Rabobanks.
Expansion of Rabobank Group's international activities is necessary because it is what
Dutch corporate clients expect. Small and medium-sized enterprises with international
operations as well as large multinational enterprises wish to do business with banks
that have an international presence and that have built up a strong reputation in the
Netherlands. In addition, international growth is desirable in order to be and remain
attractive as an employer.
It is for these reasons that Rabobank Group's global food agri bank, Rabobank
International, focuses on becoming the world's leading food agri bank. This ambition
dovetails seamlessly with Rabobank Group's cooperative origins as a financier of the Dutch
agricultural sector and the expertise it has developed.
In order to reach the top as a wholesale bank for the food agri business, Rabobank
International will strengthen its position further among the large players in this sector in the
years ahead. The global product groups comprise Global Financial Markets, Leveraged
Finance and Structured Finance. Rabobank International has a global network in almost
thirty countries, with hundreds of branches abroad. The international branch network will
focus its wholesale banking activities both on the international food agri clients and on
Dutch wholesale clients. The geographical focus of the wholesale banking activities is on
Europe and on the countries where Rabobank International has retail banking operations.
Intensified collaboration with other Group entities should result in additional growth of
these activities in years to come.
In growing its international retail banking business further, Rabobank Group focuses on food
agri. This involves services to the agricultural sector as well as to small and medium-sized
enterprises and private individuals in rural areas in selected countries. Going forward, the
international retail banking activities will be making a greater contribution to Rabobank
International's net profit.
For the expansion of its international retail banking network, Rabobank International
focuses on three growth markets, with its prime focus on traditionally agricultural countries
with a stable political climate and a structurally attractive agricultural sector, such as the
United States and Australia. Rabobank International also focuses on countries in Central and
Eastern Europe that have a growing agricultural sector, such as Poland. Then the fast-growing
emerging countries follow with a large agricultural sector, such as Brazil, Chile, China, India
and Indonesia. Most projects in these countries are on a smaller scale, and are of relatively
minor financial significance.
In 2002, Rabobank International started its Direct Banking activities in Belgium. In the
years following, Internet banks were opened abroad: in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
These banks are currently in their start-up phase.
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Rabobank Group Annual Report 2007
