Chris Berendsen
In 2022, I marked 25 years of living and working in the Arabian Peninsula, where I dedicated two decades as a nurse and manager before transitioning into project leadership and consultancy. Despite my deep-rooted experience in the region, it was the urgent humanitarian crisis in Yemen that truly captured my heart.
In collaboration with a colleague, I established a trading business that allowed me to witness firsthand the severe challenges facing the Yemeni people. However, due to the escalating situation in the country since October 2023, continuing operations has become impossible, and the project is currently on hold.
Presently, I offer consultancy services focused on supporting Yemeni entrepreneurs and startups, working alongside businesses in Europe. My goal is to help foster sustainable growth, with the hope that peace will soon return, enabling a revival of more extensive efforts.
My consultancy work across Lebanon, Egypt, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remains ongoing, often in demanding environments where my network and expertise can make a tangible difference. If you’re interested in learning more or exploring potential collaborations, please feel free to reach out.
Fall 2024 update; Over the past few months we created a hub of the business to Salalah, Oman.
1. **Closer Connection to Yemeni Partners**
Establishing a consultancy hub in Salalah, Oman, brings us geographically closer to key partners in Yemen. This proximity allows for stronger, more frequent engagement, especially in areas such as project assessment and training. The ease of travel and communication enhances our ability to respond swiftly to changing needs, creating more effective and timely collaborations
2. **Reduction of Operational Costs**
Operating from Salalah offers significant cost advantages compared to other major hubs in the region. With lower overheads in terms of office space, utilities, and travel expenses, we can allocate more resources directly into project development and service delivery. This cost efficiency ultimately benefits our clients and partners by making high-quality consulting services more affordable.
3. **Opportunities for Expansion**
Salalah’s strategic location within the Arabian Peninsula opens up opportunities for expanding our reach into neighboring markets, including East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. As Oman continues to position itself as a growing hub for regional trade, we can leverage this growth to explore new business ventures and partnerships across a broader geographic area.
.4. **Stronger Connections to Arab Culture**
Being based in Oman provides us with a deeper immersion into the rich Arab culture, which is central to many of our consulting projects. This cultural closeness strengthens our understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in the region, allowing us to offer more tailored and culturally relevant solutions to our clients
5. **Bridging the Gap Between East and West**
Salalah offers an ideal location for our work in connecting Western businesses with Arab entrepreneurs. Positioned at the crossroads of the Gulf and international markets, we are better situated to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges, ensuring that both Western and Arab clients benefit from our expertise in navigating the complexities of business collaboration across diverse cultural landscapes
These developments illustrate the growing scope of activities undertaken by APD-trading, operating under the name “Apeldoorn” in Yemen and as consultant on its border,” reflecting our strong connection with the Dutch city.
If these services have piqued your interest, we invite you to get in touch