Past Events

As the National Bank of Belgium’s annual report, an eagerly awaited source of information both in Belgium and abroad since 1851, has been published less than a month ago, the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce found it opportune to organize a Lunch-conference on economic perspectives and challenges for Belgium and the Eurozone in 2017.

And who better than the Governor of the National Bank of Belgium himself, His Excellency Jan Smets, could give us a more valuable insight on the matter?

During his presentation, Governor Smets recalled the importance of trade relations between Belgium and the Arab world stressing that this area is an important trade partner for Belgium with exports to Arab countries accounting for more than 3% of Belgian exports globally.

Governor Smets continued his analysis by giving the audience further insights on economic projections for the Eurozone and Belgium and how economic growth could be reinforced. He also drew attention to the fact that the world economy is growing and that it will grow a little bit more this year than last year.

This event was also a great occasion for the participants to meet face-to-face with our expert and to expand their network as it gathered around 80 people among which 25 Ambassadors and representatives from Arab Embassies.

Learn more about the Lunch-Conference with the governor of the NBB in our upcoming newsletter!
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On 12 February 2017, HEM Pieter de Crem, Secretary of state for Foreign Trade, accompanied by a 35-member Delegation involving no less than 17 Belgian companies from the three Regions of Belgium and Luxembourg, landed in Dubai in the framework of a Multisectorial Economic Mission to the UAE. The country is the first commercial partner of Belgium in the Gulf region and counts 3500 Belgian residents, the largest community of Belgians in the Middle East.

Important Belgian Companies such as Besix, Tractebel, whose name are known all around the UAE, joined this economic mission leaded by the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce with the support of FIT, BIE, AWEX, the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce, the Embassy of Belgium in the UAE. One must not forget that thanks to their wide range of connections and expertise such companies help put the Belgian potential firmly on the map and thus open up the market for other entrepreneurs.

It is thus no surprise that the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, benefitting from its extensive network and privileged position in the Arab World, took the initiative to bring Belgian companies to explore the UAE market and to go beyond the commonly explored Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Belgian Delegation also got the unique opportunity to get to know better less explored Emirates such as Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaima and Fujairah, which are offering a real potential for SMEs.

For some companies such as Derbigum, manufacturer of building materials, House & Garden, manufacturer of outdoor furniture, and the Law Firm Law Right, this was an opportunity to establish new contacts outside the major commercial centers.

For other companies, such as the Brussels IT company Ad Infinitium Bi, or the Electrical Panels Installations Company P&I bvba , as well as for Advensys Conseil, a Luxembourg accounting and fund investment firm, this was a first introduction to the UAE.

The Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce has had the pleasure to welcome a delegation of business men and women from the Moroccan-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce on 24 November 2016.

On this occasion, the ABLCC organized, in cooperation with BIE, AWEX, and CBL-ACP, a B2B Business Networking where participants had the opportunity to meet the members of the delegation.

More than 30 participants responded to the invitation and showed a genuine interest for the Moroccan Delegation. All the participants, Belgian and Moroccan, took advantage of the expertise and experience of our speakers to explore new opportunities on the Moroccan Market and to learn more about the Belgian potential!

Indeed, after a welcome word by Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Mr. Ghislain Breydel, Area Manager Export Middle East and North Africa, Brussels Invest & Export (BIE), gave a presentation on “Why invest in the region of Brussels-Capital”.

This was followed by a presentation “Invest in Wallonia” by Mr. Patrice Legrelle, Senior Business Development Manager Africa & Middle East, Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency (AWEX).

Mrs. Nour Badrawi, Director of the Moroccan-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, gave a brief outline of the Chamber’s activities before leaving the floor to Mrs. Meryem Zougarh, Economic Counselor, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to Belgium, who gave a comprehensive presentation entitled “Morocco, a springboard into Africa».

Among other things, Mrs. Zougarh underlined the fact that morocco has set out strategic goals to modernize key sectors of the Moroccan economy, to develop a skilled labor force thanks to trainings that meet the various company needs, to improve the business climate, and to position itself as a gateway into Africa for foreign investors.

The participants from both sides also had the chance to present their products and/or services in more detail and to meet potential cooperation/business partners during the networking lunch that brought the event to a close.

The Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce welcomed a delegation from the Bahrain Businesswomen's Society (BBWS) and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) on 09 November 2016.

The Delegation was headed by Mrs. Feryal Abdulla Nass, President of BBWS, along with Ms. Afnan Al Zayani and Ms. Ahlam Janahi, from BCCI, and consisted of ten businesswomen representing various economic sectors (e.g. health, logistics, furniture, etc.).

On this occasion, the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce organized, in close collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Brussels, a business breakfast attended by a number of Belgian businesswomen and businessmen, regional commercial agencies, representatives from the European Parliament, and members of the Arab diplomatic corps in Brussels.

This business breakfast was a great opportunity to explore cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Belgium, as well as to promote Investment opportunities in Bahrain.

After a welcoming address by Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Secretary General of the ABLCC, H.E. Dr. Bahiya Jawad ALJISHI, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain, called for the need to strengthen relations, at all levels, between both countries and expressed full readiness to cooperate with all parties and to make every effort to reach this goal. Her Excellency also put forward the need to organize meetings and visits between both countries with a view to serve their common interests, and to take advantage of the business opportunities, the business-friendly climate, and the various incentives offered to foreign investors.

Mrs. Feryal Abdulla Nass, President of BBWS, highlighted the key role of Bahraini women at all levels of society, be it in the economic, cultural, social, artistic or political field. The Bahrain Businesswomen Society, founded in 2000 by a group of businesswomen, fosters the empowerment of women locally and globally and recognizes that women play a crucial role in the development and sustainable success of societies and economies.

Mrs. Afnan Al Zayani, member of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called attention to the leading role played by women in their Chamber of Commerce and pointed up the fact that members of the Board of Directors were elected and not appointed members, which shows the confidence in the role of women in the Bahraini society.

The participants learned more about Business Friendly Bahrain thanks to a film presentation by the Bahrain Economic Development Board.

The Belgian association Femmes Chefs d’Enterprise, represented by Mrs. Murielle Eyletters, President of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprise, as well as by 4 other businesswomen, played an active part in the Business breakfast organized by the ABLCC. This was a great occasion for all of them to discuss opportunities and to build mutually beneficial business relationships. It has been agreed to sign an agreement of understanding and cooperation between both parties before the end of this year in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce is delighted with the positive outcome of this event and wishes all of them the best of success!