Recommendations

"Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals BV, Salt Specialties is pleased with the excellent research report on the possibilities for a successful introduction of one of AkzoNobel’s products in the Indian market, which IBR conducted between December 2010 until August 2011.

First desk-research was conducted, followed by field-research of 5 weeks in India. The research included mapping the competition, assessing possible distributors, making a judgement about the general market potential and investigating possible legal restrictions. The report gives Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals BV, Salt Specialties valuable recommendations, which will be used for our strategy in India.

It was a pleasure working with the students who were enthusiastic, dedicated, sympathetic and serious. Their actions in India demonstrated independent, confident and dedicated personalities aiming to reach the best result for this project.
Given our experience, we can recommend other companies to participate in the IBR project. It is an effective way to gain information on the private sector in emerging markets outside of Europe."

Juliana Ruparelia
Sales Manager Export
Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals BV, Salt Specialties

Klaas Leeuw
Market Development & Technical Service Manager
Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals BV, Salt Specialties

 

The Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) is the international development bank of the Netherlands. FMO invests risk capital in companies and financial institutions in developing countries. FMO's investment portfolio is EUR 3.4 billion, FMO is one of the largest bilateral development banks worldwide.“

FMO is pleased with the excellent research report on housing microfinance in Vietnam, which IBR conducted in 2008. The research purpose was to provide insight into the market structure for housing microfinance and identify business opportunities for FMO. The recommendations in the report resulted in a housing conference in Vietnam and business leads for FMO. Another research was conducted by IBR in Vietnam in 2010. The objective was to make a shortlist of Vietnamese banks that would best fit FMO’s investment strategy. The report gives FMO valuable recommendations, which will be used to expand FMO’s exposure in the banking sector in Vietnam. It was a pleasure working with the students who were professional, dedicated and well prepared for their task.

FMO can recommend Dutch companies to participate in the IBR project. It is an effective way to gain information on the private sector in emerging markets outside of Europe.”

B. Rekvelt
Senior Investment Officer Financial Institutions Asia
Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO)

 

“In 2007, MeetIn organized a trip for the Dutch poultry sector to Brazil. IBR prepared a perfect study on the possibilities for Dutch companies and used their time in Brazil to introduce us and our trip to all relevant contacts and institutions. In 2008, we contracted IBR in order to provide us insight in the sales potential for Dutch companies in the Vietnamese market of industrial wastewater treatment.

In both cases, the students were of high quality, highly independent and very responsible and committed to deliver the best results. We enjoyed working with them, and are very content on the results. Therefore, I would like to recommend IBR to all entrepreneurs who want to explore their possibilities in emerging markets, and who enjoy working with a young and dedicated team of high potentials!”

Drs. D.T. Aleven                      
Director
MeetIn B.V.

 

 “On behalf of EA Broekema, I can warmly recommend the International Business Research (IBR) initiative. Their reports, which focused on the characteristics of the agricultural market of Argentina (2009) and Brazil (2010), provided us with valuable intelligence about the market of conveyor belts in these countries, which are key to our growth strategy. It was a great pleasure to work with these highly enthusiastic students, who came well prepared and were very committed to the task. The young and dedicated teams brought this special energy that added fun to the work.

I strongly suggest that entrepreneurs consider IBR when exploring opportunities in emerging markets.”

J. Huisman
General Director
EA Broekema
 

"The pro-active approach, flexible attitude and professional research from the students were greatly appreciated. The report was very useful and combined with our experiences we used it to enter the Indian market and will develop our business in this sector."

Gerhard Muggen
International Marketing & Sales Manager
Stork Thermeq B.V.

"The students have identified very skillfully the opportunities for export of used commercial vehicles into Brazil. As a result, Kleyn will further strengthen its market leadership as independent company in the trade of used commercial vehicles.”

Paul J. Overakker
Former CEO
Kleyn International
 

"Heineken has always had two distinctive objectives.

Firstly, they believe that international companies should enable students to get a first-hand look at international business by being involved in actual business projects in far off countries. This Heineken has done by cooperating with International Business Research projects ever since its start on an annual basis.

Secondly, to use the IBR programme to execute research in countries in which Heineken is already active. This Heineken has done in countries like China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. They have always been impressed by the professional and dedicated way in which these research projects were executed and at a very reasonable cost. The results were useful for local management to better understand their business and to implement change where appropriate."

Maarten H. Rijkens
Director Asia Pacific and Central & Eastern Europe
Heineken