The TTIP agreement to promote trade between the European Union and the United States is under ongoing negotiations and is under constant scrutiny. Its main three focus areas are: market access; specific regulation; and broader rules and principles and modes of co-operation.
RSM’s consultancy team, comprising students from the MScBA Master in Management programme presented their findings on What Can TTIP Mean for the Rotterdam Business Community? The international team of students, Monika Nikolova, Nele-Frederike Rosenstock, Louisa Völker, Boyang Li, Phuong Hoan Le and Pietro Maria Colombari spent five months researching what TTIP could mean for the Rotterdam business community. Their presentation was one of several on the subject of TTIP at AmCham’s meeting.
Their research examined perceptions and opinions among the business community. Interviewees said trade associations play an important role in the dissemination of information, and in allowing diverse stakeholders to discuss issues such as TTIP. Trade associations are often asked to tackle myths and misunderstandings in the public debate, to provide guidance, and to offer workshops, said the students.
Their analyses looked at perceived opportunities and challenges, and showed a different outcome for each industry and sector; chemical, logistics, energy, and agro-food, among others. The students recommended that trade associations could leverage their direct and indirect networks to foster engagement in the discussion of TTIP with themed events and focused networking events. They recommended trade associations develop an inter-association taskforce for TTIP in close co-operation with their EU counterparts
The team was questioned by three representatives of the organisers – Steven Lak, Chairman of Deltalinqs; Holly Lindquist Thomas, Deputy Head Economic Section of the US Embassy; and Daniel Baltzer of RSM, as well as by members of the audience.
The students were commended for using different angles in their well-balanced approach to a sensitive topic. It was noted that students providing their own definition of TTIP was valuable to understanding the findings in context. Students used several complementary methodologies; media analysis and industry analysis were used as a base for interview analysis; this approach was well received by the hosts. “Some of them are considering using parts of our presentation in their future work,” said a member of the MSc student team, Louisa Völker.
“With the Port of Rotterdam representing a major strength for the economies of Rotterdam and the Netherlands, this was the right place to present our findings. We received a lot of positive feedback and were provided the opportunity to stay in touch with many of our interviewees,” she added.
RSM’s relationship with AmCham goes back several years; The Rotterdam Chapter of AmCham regularly commissions consultancy projects from RSM students, usually linked to economic competitiveness, and providing students with valuable opportunities to work on real projects providing a real consultancy service. The students are keen for the co-operation to continue. “We suggested AmCham should continue these projects as we learnt a lot during the five months, and we think that the next cohort of MScBA Master in Management students should have the same opportunity,” said Louisa.
