From Sunday 22 to Thursday 26 October 2017, HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium is presiding over the Belgian economic mission to Ivory Coast. The mission includes a delegation from Flanders—which consists of 60 company leaders and representatives from Belgium’s northern region and is led by Philippe Muyters, Flanders’ Minister of Work, Economy, Innovation and Sports.
On 3 October 2017, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) signed 17 structural collaboration agreements with business organizations, mixed chambers of commerce and clusters, during an official ceremony at the Hotel Errera in Brussels. Not only will these partnerships give additional impetus to the internationalization of Flanders-based companies, they also aim to attract an increasing number of investments to the region. The agreements were formally signed in the presence of Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of FIT, and Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of Flanders.
Running from Monday, 19 June to Sunday, 25 June 2017 at Le Bourget airport, the ‘Paris Air Show’ is by far the largest and most important aerospace exhibition in the world. Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), with partners FLAG (external link), AWEX (external link) and Skywin (external link), has put together the ‘Belgian Aerospace’ pavilion at the show. http://awex.be/
From 10 to 17 June, a delegation of more than 250 managers and representatives from Belgian knowledge institutions visits South Korea for an important economic mission. Princess Astrid of Belgium leads the mission and Philippe Muyters, Flanders’ Minister for Economy and Innovation, heads the delegation from Flanders.
Five decades after opening its first base at the port of Antwerp in Flanders, German chemical giant BASF wins the Lifetime Achievement Trophy at the Foreign Investment Trophy 2017.
In Kallo, near Antwerp (Flanders), Norwegian wood producer Kebony is building its first production site outside of Norway. By choosing Flanders as its location, Kebony also secured the very first trophy for Newcomer of the Year at the Foreign Investment Trophy 2017.
On Tuesday February 21, 2017, Flanders Investment & Trade organized the Foreign Investment Trophy for the fifth year in a row.
Flanders Investment & Trade will be hosting its fifth Foreign Investment Trophy ceremony on Tuesday February 21, 2017 at the Ghelamco Arena in Ghent. During this prestigious event, the government agency highlights various remarkable foreign investments in Flanders.
A total investment amount of EUR 1.87 billion, representing 198 new projects and generating 4,260 new jobs: that is the outcome of foreign direct investment in the region of Flanders in 2016 – as confirmed by Flanders Investment & Trade.
This 15th edition of the Export Lion awards have been won by Aucxis of Stekene, East Flanders, a small company in the highly specialised field of auction and sales systems, and by MediaGeniX of Groot-Bijgaarden, which makes broadcast management software. The awards are given out annually by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) to companies that have shown strong export performance.
“Of course I deplore the outcome of the referendum to leave the European Union. This weakens the UK, the EU and Flanders. But we respect the British decision. Now we have to be pragmatic and take the necessary steps for a soft Brexit.”
On 10 May, Flanders’ Minister-President Geert Bourgeois opened a new office of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) in Vilnius, Lithuania. The representation will operate in the entire Baltic region and cover not only Lithuania but Latvia and Estonia as well. The region’s strategic position is of paramount importance in opening an office abroad at this precise location.
In 2015, Flemish exports were worth over 300 billion euro, the highest value ever, according to a first analysis by Flanders Investment & Trade of the import and export figures supplied by the Institute of National Accounts within the National Bank of Belgium.
Flanders’ Minister-President Geert Bourgeois leads a Flemish economic mission to India from 24 to 28 April. It is the largest economic mission ever: no less than 84 participants will explore commercial opportunities in Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. In total, 55 Flemish companies and sector federations have registered. Flanders Investment & Trade organises the mission.
Sanofi announced a €300 million investment to expand its site in Geel, Belgium. The investment furthers Sanofi’s commitment to driving the future of biologics by expanding manufacturing and commercial capabilities in order to ensure quality, capacity, and scale.
