Past Events

Antwerp – 24 September 2013

Fltr: Mr. Stephan Gys (Hamon), Mr. Frank Haak (BNP Paribas Fortis), Mr. Peter Van Blanckenberg (SGS), Mrs. Joyce Choukri (RAK FTZ) and Mr. Qaisar Hijazin (ABLCC)

When we take a look at the statistics, we learn that Belgian exports to the Arab world increased by more than 11% in 2012, a positive trend that continues into the first half of 2013, while Arab countries, on the other hand, are currently witnessing a decline in their exports to Belgium, which dropped by 8% compared to the first half of 2012.

But the seminar that was jointly organized by Business Solutions Provider SGS and the ABLCC on the 24th of September aimed to dig deeper than business figures. To enable participants to grasp the complex realities that lie behind these figures, and to provide them with the information that really matters for developing business strategies, SGS and the ABLCC invited an interesting panel of experts to shed light on a number of themes that carry particular importance when doing business with today’s Arab world. This was moreover done in a most comprehensive way, by giving the floor to both experts who draw their expertise from every day experience working in the field as well as to those who approach the matter from a theoretical angle.

Brussels - 11 June 2013 

“In a person’s life, the age of thirty-five is one of those milestones when one takes a moment to take stock of his or her life: to consider the progress one has made over all those years and successes achieved, but also to stop and think about the lessons that can be learnt from more difficult periods, in order to engage in continuous self-improvement and gear up to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. It’s no different for the Chamber. At its thirty-fifth anniversary, it can proudly look back on more than three decades of developing its role as a bridge between Belgium and Luxembourg on the one side, and the Arab world on the other.” These are the words with which Johan Beerlandt, President of the ABLCC, opened the seminar that was organized on the 11th of June in Brussels to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ABLCC.

14 May 2013 – Brussels

Fltr: Mrs. Mette Werdelin Azzam of the World Customs Organization, Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, SG of the ABLCC, Mr. Valère Van Geel, General Counselor at the FPS Economy and Mr. Wouter Van Gulck, General Manager of the Belgian Chambers.

On the 14th of May, the ABLCC participated in an information meeting on E-Certification for Export organized by the Belgian Federal Public Service for Economy. As was mentioned by Mr. Eli Vanslembrouck, Attaché at the DG Economic Potential - Trade Policy of the FPS Economy, Belgian chambers of commerce delivered 280,404 certificates of origin in 2012, an increase of 10,170 certificates or 3.8% compared with 2011. Arab countries are well represented in the top ten of main destinations in 2012, with Saudi Arabia – which accounts for 7.8% of the total of certificates of origin delivered by Belgian Chambers in 2012 – occupying a second position. Other Arab countries that were able to secure a spot in the top ten include the United Arab Emirates (7.5%), Egypt (3.4%), Algeria (2.6%), and Qatar (2.0%). In charge of the legalization of commercial documents destined for the Arab world, the ABLCC had been invited to give a presentation on its activities and services. An overview of ABLCC member advantages can be consulted here.

6 - 10 May 2013

From 6 until 10 May, a delegation comprising representatives of twenty Belgian companies headed to Algeria in search of business opportunities and commercial partnerships. The ABLCC organized this multisectoral economic mission with the collaboration of the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Brussel Invest and Export. It also enjoyed the valuable support of H.E. Mr. Frédéric Meurice, Belgian Ambassador to Algeria, and of Mr. Rudy Mertens, Economic Attaché of Brussels Invest and Export. The well filled programme, which was elaborated with the collaboration of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI), included, among other activities, a plenary meeting at the Algerian Chamber, two days of bilateral meetings between Belgian and Algerian companies, a reception offered by the Belgian Ambassador, and an optional visit to the Batimatec Fair. Meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Industry, SMEs and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Public Works and state-owned Sonelgaz and Sonatrach also formed part of the agenda.