Major Dutch firms combine to fight ‘populism’

AFP, THE HAGUE:  Major Dutch corporations including Shell, Unilever, Philips and dairy produce giant Friesland Campina have joined forces to showcase national talents in a bid to roll back gloom and populism, the Dutch press reported Saturday.
A PR campaign—whose launch coincides with a tense election campaign—will point to Dutch success in meeting five challenges of the future, the financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad said.
Entitled “Global problems, Dutch solutions”, it will look at how Dutch enterprises are enhancing farm yields and water management, coping with demographic ageing, the demands of urbanisation and the switch to renewable energy.
The European head of Unilever, Jan Zijderveld, told the paper “populism is a symptom of lack of progress.”
“Right now, there is a lack of an outlook for growth and that feeds negativity.”
He added: “To combat populism, we need a new business model, a point on the horizon to which we can work over the next decade.”
“In the election debates, people only talk about today, not about the future,” he said.
The initiative coincides with the runup to general elections that are seen as a bellwether for nationalism in Europe in a critical year following last year’s Brexit vote and the victory of Donald Trump.
Far-right parties are beating on drum on immigration, Islam and economic stagnation. 

Major Dutch firms combine to fight populism

AFP, THE HAGUE: Major Dutch corporations including Shell, Unilever, Philips and dairy produce giant Friesland Campina have joined forces to showcase national talents in a bid to roll back gloom and populism, the Dutch press reported Saturday. A PR campaignwhose launch coincides with a tense election campaignwill point to Dutch success in meeting five challenges of the future, the financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad said. Entitled Global problems, Dutch solutions, it will look at how Dutch enterprises are enhancing farm yields and water management, coping with demographic ageing, the demands of urbanisation and the switch to renewable energy. The European head of Unilever, Jan Zijderveld, told the paper populism is a symptom of lack of progress. Right now, there is a lack of an outlook for growth and that feeds negativity. He added: To combat populism, we need a new business model, a point on the horizon to which we can work over the next decade. In the election debates, people only talk abouttoday, not about the future, he said. The initiative coincides with the runup to general elections that are seen as a bellwether for nationalism in Europe in a critical year following last years Brexit vote and the victory of Donald Trump. Far-right parties are beating on drum on immigration, Islam and economicstagnation.