[MEET THE MEMBER] Rene Bos - RAI Amsterdam / China
Photo 1: Rene Bos wearing a fine azureous tailored suit during a lunch meeting
Rene Bos
“Doing business with China is a landscape filled with challenges: culture, language and communication, but the most important thing that I get here is the inspiration: pragmatism, determination and vigor of the Chinese people”, spoke Rene Bos, Exhibition Manager Aquatech China 展览总经理 at RAI Amsterdam.
Rene Bos has 20 years+ extensive experience of doing business in China, previously held functions include Research Director of NIPO (Netherlands Institute of Public Opinion), Vice President Global Corporate Development at ChinaCache and his own consulting firm specialized in international tourism and China Business Relations. Since 1st of June 2023, Rene Bos has been promoting the business interests of RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, which is the oldest and largest multifunctional venue in the Netherlands with a capacity of 13.000 visitors. At present, RAI has, besides its headquarters in Amsterdam, a team of 40 members in the Shanghai office.
In our new section, “Meet the Member”, the Benelux Chamber of Commerce goes weekly for lunch to interview one of its honorable and esteemed members. For the first edition, we kick off with Rene Bos.
Photo 2: RAI Amsterdam
RAI and exhibition fairs
“In China, people tend to be more optimistic towards the future relative to the West. Doing business in China is completely different compared to the way in the Netherlands: Chinese people invest in relationships by socializing, establishing a guanxi, in order to gain trust versus Dutch people who look at two different quotations and simply pick the “best” one.” says Rene Bos. Rene is determined to contribute to the success of upcoming exhibitions for RAI in China.
The RAI aims to organize more exhibition fairs and therefore needs more exhibitors and visitors. RAI organizes annually four events in China: AquaTech, InterClean, Intertraffic - in Shanghai - and Rematec in Guangzhou. Specifically, AquaTech which aims to improve water quality for example companies which are involved with the purification process of (drinking) water. These kinds of events are perfect opportunities for businesses within each industry to find more value, expand and collaborate.
Furthermore, the leadership of RAI Amsterdam has made it a key mission to focus on corporate social responsibility policy. The organizers of the exhibitions use carpets, recycle as much as they can, alternate with vegetarian food options, and encourage reduction of carbon footprint by promoting train tickets instead of taking flights. Therefore, RAI is focused on contributing to global sustainability during their exhibitions.
Benelux companies
Rene Bos and RAI are looking for Benelux companies which are interested in showcasing their products and services in the exhibition halls of China.
Would you like to know more?
Connect with Rene: r.bos@rai.nl
Connect with Simon, Managing Director of RAI China: simon.d@global-rai.com
Save the Date and Visit Link!
- September 5th: Webinar “Doing business in China” organized by RVO & RAI
https://www.rvo.nl/evenementen/webinar-de-watersector-china-en-kansen-voor-nederlandse-ondernemers
- December 11-13th: InterClean & AquaTech located at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai
https://www.aquatechtrade.com/shanghai and https://www.intercleanshow.com/china
- April 28-30th 2025: Intertraffic located at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai
https://www.intertraffic.com/china/exhibition-info
- August 2025: Rematec Asia in Guangzhou
See you there! Fairwell!