05/06/2007 1:03:42 pm
With Thomas Friedman in Amsterdam. Yesterday, I was a speaker at a large arrangement by the financial corporation Delta Lloyd (by the way celebrating 200 years in business) about globalisation and the need for reforms. They had constructed an entire conference hall inside a passenger′s terminal for ships. The stage had a marine touch and the background was a sky with movement, following the winds of change. Some 250, mostly leading businessmen, participated.

Thomas Friedman was the first speaker and basically summarised his "The World Is flat" in an excellent way. He talked about the changes of production in the world getting "farther, faster, deeper and cheaper". After him, the Dutch Minister for Trade, Frank Heemskerk, spoke. He mentioned a long-term analysis that showed the average dutch person having 50 per cent lower income in 2040 compared to if the world continues to globalise.

Then, my turn. This was a highly professional arrangement, with lights, cameras, videoscreens, etc. I was introduced with a coincidentally rather Bond-like film on a large screen. Then, I talked about the great effects of globalisation, the need for reform in Western Europe, what to do and how to do it. Seemed to be very appreciated, not least by the Chairman of the Board of Delta Lloyd, Niek Hoek. All in all very interesting.