Saudi Arabia: Dutch companies complain of cold shoulder

Dutch government officials say there has still been no official word from Saudi Arabia about a rumoured decision to sideline Dutch companies, following Saudi anger at anti-Islamic statements made by far-right politician Geert Wilders (GSN 970/5). But some Dutch companies in the kingdom have reported discriminatory treatment, and the threat has been deemed serious enough for the Netherlands’ largest employment association, VNO-NCW – apparently at the request of the Dutch government – to take out adverts in the Saudi press condemning Wilders’ “insulting and provocative” actions.