Marijn Leijten takes over as NBSO chief representative in Ahmedabad

The Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Ahmedabad is an open space with warm orange hues on its walls and low wooden furniture, a welcome respite from the run-of-the-mill cubicular workspaces we normally see around. In an inner room, sitting by large sun-wafted windows is the brown-haired, dark-suited Marijn Leijten, a Dutch national who was recently appointed chief representative at NBSO Ahmedabad. He takes over the post from Gauri Wagenar who was at the helm of affairs for 15 years at this office. 

‘Marijn isn't new to India. He previously worked in the apparel industry in Chennai and has completed an extensive research on the logistics chain between Delhi and Kolkata (north east corridor). He has also lived in Mumbai and traveled extensively all over India for work and play.  "I enjoy traveling. It helps in developing cross cultural relations, one of the things I'm passionate about," said Marijn, as he settled down for this interview.

For Marijn, Gujarat reminds him of Netherlands where he has lived most of his life. He is a bachelor in management economics and law (BBA) and a post-graduate in cross-cultural marketing from Amsterdam. According to him, Gujaratis are much like the Dutch, direct in their approach with a strong understanding of money. "The Dutch are known as the Marwadis of Europe," quipped Gauri, adding the Indian angle to our conversation.

However, apart from this similarity between the two diaspora, Marijn has had his fair share of 'eventful' camaraderie with Gujarati bureaucracy at the Foreign Registration Office (FRO). He, being a foreign national, had to hustle from one window to the other to obtain official papers, get them stamped, signed and back again to the first window to get them certified for a home here in Ahmedabad. To top it all up, he had a police van stationed outside his new home all night, just for verification.  "They must be there even now," joked Marijn. 

From a businessman's perspective, Marijn feels Gujarat is a lucrative investment destination today. He however believes that the state can do much in developing the Golden Triangle structure viz collaboration between knowledge, government and the human resource. "Companies are bringing in skilled labour from other states to run factories here as the locals lack technical know-how.

The state should work towards enhancing knowledge to keep the jobs in the state," added Gauri.  Marijn, meanwhile, is still trying to get to terms with the nightmarish traffic situation here in Ahmedabad. "People are always honking here! Traffic is chockablock with no lane discipline. It's a culture shock from Holland where we rarely blow horns in traffic," said Marijn.  "I'm planning to buy an Enfield motorcycle next week. Let's see how I cope up with the traffic then," he signs off.