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.
Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) has won the award for best investment project in Europe. The award ceremony took place from 11 to 13 April at the ‘Annual Investment Meeting’ (AIM) in Dubai, UAE.
On 22 March, on behalf of the Government of Flanders, Minister-president Geert Bourgeois offered his deepest condolences to the victims of the attacks in Brussels and Zaventem and their relatives.
On 24 February, Japanese chemical company Nippon Shokubai was awarded the Investment of the Year Trophy at the fourth Foreign Investment Trophy event organized by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). The award is aimed at promoting and encouraging sustainable foreign investments in Flanders to strengthen the economic position and prospects of the region.
On 24 February, Swedish company Volvo Cars, owned by Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group since 2010, was announced winner of the third Lifetime Achievement Trophy. The Lifetime Achievement Trophy event is designed by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) to reward foreign investors for their ongoing commitment to the Flanders region.
In 2015, we recorded 227 new investment projects in Flanders for an investment amount of EUR 2.7 billion, creating 4,352 jobs.
The goals of the first Flanders International Economic Summit (#FIES16), which took place in the Parliament of Flanders today (Monday, 25 January), were to promote Flanders even more enthusiastically on the international stage, and to offer still greater support to businesses to encourage them to adopt an international course or to expand their operations in Flanders.
