Can you tell us something about Agidens?

Improvement. That’s what Agidens is all about, because Progress brings us together. Firstly, we help our customers improve their production processes and procedures. We help our customers by means of consulting and engineering, turnkey automated solutions and maintenance services. For more than 70 years we have been helping companies in the tank terminal, life sciences, fine chemicals, food & beverage and infrastructure industries to improve their operations in the areas of security, reliability,efficiency and sustainability.

Why did Agidens choose Texas?

With our Oil & Gas division, we focus on bulk liquid storage and tank terminals, and we are market leader in one of the four big logistics hubs: the ARA region (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp). As it is our ambition to continue to grow in value creation to our customers, who are often active in several of the major hubs, it was a logical step for Agidens to be physically present in the other hubs. Because Houston is, on a global scale, one of the other big bulk liquid storage and tank terminal hubs, we had been playing with the idea of opening an office in the States for some time. When we signed a global support contract with one of our clients for their sites in, amongst others, Texas and New Orleans, it was the ideal moment to bring that idea to life. Now we can offer our clients an even better support.

What kind of advice can you give to Dutch entrepreneurs who want to do business in Texas?

The best advice we can give, in addition of mastering the language, is that you really need to take the time to sincerely invest in your relationships. Of course, it goes without saying that you must make sure that you really integrate yourself into the Texan community. Show a genuine interest in the (sports) culture, because many decisions and deals are the result of informal contacts. In Texas, business and pleasure go hand in hand.