As part of the mission, Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), is also traveling to Ivory Coast: “Exports from Flanders to Ivory Coast have been on the rise for several years. As such, the country is our region’s 6th-largest export market in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Flanders-based companies represent more than 93% of the total Belgian exports to the Ivorian market.

The goal of this economic mission is two-pronged: to support companies from Flanders in further developing their export and investment activities in Ivory Coast, and to convince Ivorian companies and entrepreneurs to invest in Flanders as well. As such, FIT is taking the lead in organizing the forum ‘Transports & Logistique’ to promote the assets of both Flanders and Belgium as European hubs for transport and logistics.”

The delegation from Flanders represents various industries, including transport (ports, airports, waterways, etc.), logistics (such as bulk transport), energy and renewable energy, and agro-food.