International growth
Competition & tariffs
Digital transformation
Global - 35%
Global - 33%
Global - 29%
Costs and/or operational issues due to trade and tariff changes
Adapting/upscaling technology and digital infrastructure
Establishing local supply chains
NL - 37%
NL - 42%
NL - 34%
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Partner
Alexander Rasink
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C-suite Barometer: Outlook 2026
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Consuelo Sedney
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Partner, lid Raad van Bestuur
Partner
Alexander Rasink
“International growth requires clear, decisive choices at the top. Organizations that successfully operate across borders combine strong local execution with central governance and a clear group strategy. Only then can growth remain manageable, scalable, and sustainable in an international context.”
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Revising international expansion plans
Trade and tariffs
Geopolitical instability or social unrest
Scarcity/availability of talent
Climate change
Global
Netherlands
54%
60%
72%
44%
18%
49%
54%
26%
Dutch organisations are once again focusing primarily on France and Germany when expanding internationally. New entrants in this year’s top five are China, Australia, and Canada. Notably, the United States, globally the most popular destination for international expansion (26%), ranks only sixth in the Netherlands, with 18%.
Top five countries for international expansion
International growth driven by geopolitics
The C-suite identifies the following reasons for adjusting their international expansion strategy.
Revised international expansion plans
Major challenges in international expansion:
International growth is the top strategic priority for Dutch C-suite executives However, due to geopolitical instability, organisations are adjusting their expansion plans. 37% are expanding the scale of their international activities, while 34% are limiting them, and 6% have even halted them completely.
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The Forvis Mazars Financial advisory team offers financial expertise in transactions, restructurings, value management, external reporting, financial disputes, court procedures and forensic investigation.
Financial advisory
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Deploying staff on global assignments can create escalating challenges for managing the risks arising from in tax, social security, immigration, payroll and corporation tax considerations. To be able to respond to these challenges, global mobility policies and processes often need to be implemented and/or reviewed from several different areas of expertise.
Global mobility
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Do you perform fiscal activities abroad or are you a working expat? Then you have to deal with complex international regulations. Do you know which tax regulations you must comply with? The specialists from Forvis Mazars can help you with this. They explain the tax implications of your international activities clearly, so that you can maximise the opportunities for your business.
International tax
A wide range of services for a wide range of clients
None of the above
5%
3%
Germany
France
China
Australia
Global
Netherlands
24%
22%
17%
22%
23%
22%
28%
Canada
25%
19%
31%