Past Events

 As every year the ABLCC takes the occasion to invite the ambassadors accredited in Arab countries to inform the Belgian business community of the situation and possible business opportunities in the Arab world. Accompanied by their Arab counterparts, the ambassadors were able to give a good insight.

“On the contrary of what many people may think, business relations between Belgium and the Arab countries are still very fruitful”, underlines Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Secretary-General of the ABLCC, in his introduction. Statistics show that the trade volume between Belgium and Arab countries keeps growing; sometimes where you might not expect it.

“I’d say the moment to start doing business in Libya is now, and do not wait.”

 Libya, for example, could be a great partner for Belgium says H.E. Mr. Andy Detaille, Ambassador of Libya. “Libya is one of the great economic promises of Africa. There is a great lack of infrastructure due to 42 years of deliberate mismanagement, but that’s also a great opportunity for Belgian enterprises. Libya’s welcoming foreign expertise to build schools, hospitals... Libya is the second sunniest country in Africa, and also has the potential for wind energy resources, so Libya must profit from environmental challenges.”

“Isn’t Libya a security risk then? Yes, it is. But if you really invest in your business partners, investment stays possible in any Arab country. There’s a huge pressure from society upon the government to finally start spending the oil money it has, so I’d say the moment to start doing business in Libya is now, and do not wait.”

“Egyptian tourism doesn’t profit from its location next to two different seas”

Another so-called difficult market nowadays is Egypt. “On the contrary one would say, Egypt is not too chaotic, but is on a roadmap towards democracy. Besides all turmoil, the government is still working – look at the Suez Canal! – and providing stimulus packages for the economy”, says H.E. Mr. Gilles Heyvaert, Belgian Ambassador to Egypt.

“Belgian economic ties with Egypt are more than good, our export to Egypt even grow 30 to 40 percent in the last years, notwithstanding the internal difficulties Egypt has. And there are certain sectors in which it would be worth a look to invest. Tourism, for example, has never reached its limits in Egypt. It doesn’t profit from the fact it lies next to two different seas.”

“The best thing to do is working as subcontractors: taking your first steps in business projects via others. There are many examples of projects where Belgian enterprises have already profited or can profit from this situation in the future. Look at Belgian companies like Besix or Orascom, and the knowledge they bring together with their Belgian partners.”

“If I drive through the port of Antwerp, I see a great part of the oil will be Iraqi oil”

It doesn’t need to be said, but Iraq faces tremendous challenges in the near future, says H.E. Mr. Thomas Baekelandt, Ambassador to Iraq and Jordan. “Iraq can use its unique oil-gas economy to recover. But therein lays also a grave danger: not only buildings need to be reconstructed but also the institutions, which creates an ideal opportunity for lots of corruption. And besides that you’ve got a well-performing Kurdistan in the North that doesn’t want order from such a government.”

So is Iraq a difficult market? “Statistics say something else. The trade volume between Belgium and Iraq has grown significantly the last few years. But that doesn’t show all, because one would think it’s only exports to Iraq. But if I drive through the port of Antwerp, I see how much oil there is. A great part of it will be Iraqi oil", concluded ambassador Baekelandt.