Foreign investments in the Netherlands rose last year despite the turbulent economic situation, says the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) in its latest report.

The NFIA, which is part of the economic affairs ministry, supported 182 investment projects in 2008 totaling €667m. These are expected to generate 3,300 jobs in the long term, the report said. Half of the companies are from Asia followed by the US with almost 40%.
‘Foreign investments are of great importance for the Dutch economy because they generate jobs and innovation. The Netherlands is still popular with foreign investors but 2009 will certainly be a more difficult year,’ said junior economic affairs minister Frank Heemskerk who presented the figures on Tuesday.