News item | 06-01-2025 | 8:00 PM
Governor of the American state of Arizona Katie Hobbs and Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs signed today Phoenix a cooperation agreement in the field of semiconductor technology. Hobbs and Beljaarts have agreed to work more on innovations, talent development and bringing products and services to the market in this industry. Several Dutch chip companies are already established in Arizona. In addition, Minister Beljaarts, also on behalf of Minister Reinette Klever of Foreign Trade and Development Aid, will open a meeting today Netherlands Business Support Office in Phoenix, Ariz. The purpose of this representation is to provide structural support to Dutch companies that want to do business in Silicon Desert.
Minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs): “Nobody knows exactly what our economy will look like in the future. What challenges and opportunities technology will offer our society. What we do know is that good hardware, in the form of semiconductors, is the basis of digital development and therefore the key to economic growth.”
The minister continues: “The ties we are forging here today in Arizona strengthen transatlantic cooperation and therefore lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth and innovation. Not only for the semiconductor industry but for the entire Dutch and European economy.”
Katie Hobbs (Arizona Governor): “Arizona enjoys a strong bilateral relationship with the Netherlands that spans trade, cultural exchanges, and many high-tech industries, including semiconductors, this MOU and the new Netherlands Business Support Office in Arizona will further our important partnership and open new doors for collaboration.“
Collaboration agreement
Minister Beljaarts will visit Phoenix, Arizona, as part of a working visit to the US from 5 to 6 January. A region also known by its name Silicon Desert. The region is an international hub for high-tech companies in the semiconductor industry. By signing this cooperation agreement, Minister Beljaarts is taking a new step in cooperation between the United States and the Netherlands when it comes to the semiconductor industry. The agreement specifically focuses on collaboration in the areas of talent development, R&D, valorization, ecosystem management and development.
Support Dutch companies
In addition, Minister Beljaarts will open a new one today in Phoenix, partly on behalf of Minister Klever of Foreign Trade and Development Aid Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO). With the opening of this trade office, concrete steps are being taken to provide lasting support to the Dutch business community in this region. Trade between the Netherlands and Phoenix has grown significantly by 34 percent between 2020 and 2024. The entire state of Arizona as a whole exports more than a billion dollars to the Netherlands. We also see that more and more Dutch companies are investing in Arizona.
The trade office supports Dutch companies if they plan to do business in Phoenix. Consider a company that wants to export to Phoenix or establish a business here. An NSBO can then provide them with practical support by helping to find collaboration partners, market information and information about local laws and regulations.
The visit to Arizona underlines the Netherlands’ ambition to be at the forefront of technological developments internationally and at the same time create new economic opportunities.