Chris Berendsen
About Me
Since 1997, I have been deeply connected to the Arabian Peninsula, first as a Nurse Manager in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and later transitioning into Project Management in 2018. In recent years, my work has primarily focused on Yemen, a country whose people have captured my heart as they navigate daily life in a humanitarian crisis.
My consultancy and project management work involve crisis support, including food security and medical supervision. However, what brings me the most joy is supporting innovations that create sustainable income sources for Yemenis. In pursuit of this, my team and I gained valuable experience in establishing an export company in Yemen. Unfortunately, after 18 months and the challenges triggered by the events of October 7, we had to put operations on hold due to increasing logistical and security concerns.
Traveling within Yemen between 2022 and 2023 provided me with firsthand insights into the people and processes in both the northern and southern regions. This experience has strengthened my ability to support European companies with consultancy requests and project management expertise.
Currently, I am fully engaged with one company and, at this stage, am not seeking new contracts.
In 2024, I relocated to Salalah, Oman, a stable and strategic base just a few hours from the Yemeni border. Here, I continue my online consultancy and project management work while exploring opportunities in Arab businesses related to farming and tourism—two sectors that will play a crucial role in Yemen’s future. By gaining hands-on experience now, I aim to use these skills in the future to support both Yemenis and European companies seeking to make a lasting impact in the region
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