Past Events

H.E.M. Pieter De Crem with Mr. Chairman and Mr. Secretary General of the ABLCC

As is the custom, the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce has brought together its board members, Arab Ambassadors accredited to Brussels, and its members, for a lunch-conference in the Cercle Royal Gaulois, on the occasion of its meeting of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

This year, the ABLCC has had the honour to welcome H.E.M. Pieter De Crem, Federal Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, as its guest speaker.

After a welcome speech by Mr. Johan Beerlant, President of the ABLCC, H.E.M. Pieter De Crem elaborated on the challenges and opportunities of a growing trade and economic relationship between Belgium and Arab countries in the aftermath of the princely mission to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“The excellent relations and numerous new contacts generated by these two missions must now be expanded and further deepened. Moreover, their impact doesn’t stay limited to the economic domain. They also have an impact on our mutual knowledge and understanding of each other in the political, social and cultural domains. And this, ladies and gentlemen, lays the foundations for trust and even friendship, an essential element for doing business.“

Fltr: Mr. Andre Deltenre, Mr. Hazem Hassanein, Mr. Ghassan Ejjeh, Mrs. Carina Sutera Sardo, Mr. Johan Beerlandt, Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Mr. Mohamad Al-Mazny, Mr. Nabil Jijakli

What is more, H.E.M. Pieter De Crem, highlighted the important role played by the ABLCC in developing relations between Belgium Luxembourg and the Arab world.

“You may therefore consider me as a loyal partner that wants to assist you in achieving your objectives. Ever since your establishment in 1978, you are performing excellent work by establishing an economic and commercial network that is capable of exploiting the full opportunities of the relation between Belgium and the Arab World. You deliver important work in assisting Belgian companies on the Arab market, but your role in the other direction is of course equally important." (see full discourse here)

We thank all the participants for coming in such a large number and for their continuing trust and support!