Chamber News and Recent Activities

8th Arab Belgian Diplomatic Business Workshop

15 December 2017

The now renowned « Diplomatic Business Workshop » organized for the 8th consecutive year by the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Linklaters, was held on Friday 15 December 2017.

Through this workshop the ABLCC organized a networking lunch started with a brief speech of HE.Mr. Johan Verkammen Director Middle East & North Africa- foreign Affairs, shedding light that this economic diplomacy should be as efficient and useful as possible for our companies.

Explaining the importance of summarizing our action by referring to the 4 “I’s”: to Inform, to Introduce, to Intervene and to promote the Image of Belgium.

« We encourage our embassies and consulates abroad to feed us with relevant economic information, which is dispatched to our regional bodies and to our companies.

Mentioning the application called “Trade4U” which is run by the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency and which provides economic information on your smartphone.

Reiterating that Trade missions are an important tool, in that respect one of the highlights in 2018 will be the trade missions lead by Her Highness Princess Astrid in Morocco, in Egypt in the spring, and many more.

We all work towards the same goal: enhance our foreign trade relations and defend the interests of our companies.

He underlined the Efficient effort of the Arab Belgian Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce for this successful gathering, more than 110 participants each year, the workshop makes perfectly clear the importance of Arab-Belgian relations and its supporting role for Belgian companies.

And in the frame of the 40th anniversary of the Chamber in 2018, Mr. Ghassan Ejjeh (Senior vice-president) BESIX, reporting his long relation with the Chamber extended for 50 years, and its evolution.

ABLCC hosts Kuwait Forum to boost trade, economic ties with Belgium

19 February 2018

High-ranking Kuwaiti diplomats and economic officials presented tremendous opportunities and facilities available for Belgian entrepreneurs to do business in Kuwait, at a conference held in Brussels Monday. The Kuwait Economic Forum (Kuwait Vision 2035) was organized by the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ABLCC) in collaboration with the Embassy of Kuwait in Brussels and with Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA).

Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Secretary General of ABLCC, in his welcome remarks said that the forum represents a good occasion for Belgian entrepreneurs to find out more about the various business opportunities offered by Kuwait and to confirm the place of Kuwait as a commercial and financial center. He underlined the important role of Kuwait to preserve stability in the region.

In turn, Kuwait's Ambassador to Belgium, EU, NATO and Luxembourg, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, in his welcome address said "Kuwait is in the best position of major oil exporting nations to have a balanced budget. "This is mainly due to our fiscal reforms, diversification, and our investment income. Kuwait's financial buffers have allowed the country to pursue an expansionary budget this year," he said. "Perhaps the best indication of Kuwait's fiscal health is our sovereign credit rating where major credit agencies have rated Kuwait positively," he noted.

Kuwait Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Amal Al-Hamad, in her brief remarks, said "this is an opportunity for Belgian and European companies to have more in-depth knowledge of what is available as investments in Kuwait." She highlighted the importance of the forthcoming Kuwait Investment Forum, which will be on 20 and 21 March, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir. She noted that already 300 companies have registered to attend this forum in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Cecile Jodogne, state secretary for the Brussels-Capital Region, in charge for foreign trade, in her keynote speech, underlined the importance Belgium attaches to its relations with Kuwait noting the Belgium established its embassy in Kuwait in 1965. "Since then we have maintained a dynamic political and economic relations," she said and praised Kuwait's role as mediator in the region. "I would like to take the occasion to praise Kuwait in its mediator efforts and setting up a dialogue with its neighbors," she said. Jodogne also noted the increased exchange of visits by officials and business community of both countries as a sign of growing partnership between the two friendly countries. "The increase in trade ties between Belgium and Kuwait will be beneficial for all of us present here. All the Belgian participants in this Forum are excited about Kuwait's 2035 vision" she stressed.

Furthermore, Majed Al-Ajeel, Chairman of Kuwait Banking Association and Chairman of the Burgan Bank presented the opportunities and facilities offered by Kuwait's banking sector to traders and businessmen. He mentioned figures and statistics which shows that Kuwait has a solid banking sector and a strong regulatory environment and said that the Kuwait banking sector has invested billions of dollars in major projects in the country.

Khaled Mahdi, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, gave a detailed overall view of Kuwait's National Development Plan and spoke about future major economy projects in the country related with the 2035 vision. "Kuwait is taking important steps towards sustainability under a wise leadership," he stressed.

Mohammad Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for business development at KDIPA, also spoke about the National Development Plan and projects that KDIPA is working on to achieve 2035 vision. He also focused on the leading role played by KDIPA to strengthen the private sector and invited international companies to invest in projects in Kuwait noting that the country has a transparent legal system and a young and highly educated population. "We are the gate for Iraq, Turkey and Iran," he stressed.

Fadhel Al-Faraj Managing Director for Kuwait Petroleum in Northwest Europe, noted that Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is one of the world's largest integrated oil conglomerates and runs 8 subsidiaries in exploration and production, downstream, and transportation. He noted that KPC's international arm, KPI, has three offices in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg and plans to maintain its strengthened position in the Benelux market focussing on the growth and quality of its networks.

Muthanna Al-Saleh, head of markets sector at Kuwait Capitals Markets Authority (CMA) in his speech gave an overview of CMA activities and noted that it is the oldest in the region. He said Kuwait Stock Exchange was the first exchange in the region which was established in 1983. Al-Saleh added that CMA has a robust legal and regulatory framework and enhances investor protection. He said that Boursa Kuwait (BK) is the only exchange in Kuwait and 177 companies are listed in BK. Among key CMA objectives are to attract more foreign and institutional investors to the market and enhance the efficiency of the overall market infrastructure, he said. The forum concluded with a lively question and answer session which showed the keen interest of Belgian businessmen to build partnerships in Kuwait.

Qatar Chamber Business Delegation

5 March 2018

On the 5th of March 2018, The Qatar Chamber and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, along with the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Brussels, and the ABLCC, organized B2B meetings with more than 40 Qatari Businessmen attending the event, thanks to the collaboration of the Arab Belgian Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, more than 40 Belgian enterprises responded to the invitation from various sectors, and showed a genuine interest for the Qatari Delegation, to explore potential business partnerships and opportunities between the two Countries.

Secretary General, Mr. Qaisar Hijazin expressed the great pleasure to welcome this important delegation and stressed on the good initiative and the precious collaboration of the Chamber of Qatar, mentioning that trade relations between the two countries amounted to 1.5 Billion Euro in 2015, and 900 Million Euro in 2016.

From his side, Mr. Ali Al Misnad, member of the board of the Chamber of Qatar, underlined the very dynamic and impressive development of Qatar and the diversified economy, inviting the Belgian partners to join the game and to collaborate with Qatari private sector and to share the Belgian expertise and know-how.

To bring this day to a close, B2B meetings was followed by a networking dinner that enabled participants from both sides to share experiences and discuss potential areas of cooperation in developing closer relations.

Egyptian Belgian Business Forum

13 March 2018

On the occasion of the visit of the Egyptian-Belgian Business Association (EBBA) Delegation, to belgium. The Arab-Belgian- Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, along with the Embassy of Egypt in Brussels, organized a Business Seminar titled “Egypt and Belgium, endless opportunities for business synergies”, on Tuesday 13th of March 2018, in the hotel le Châtelain, Brussels.

On this occasion, the ABLCC organized a Business Seminar, followed by a lunch in presence of the delegation and B2B meetings, in this year’s edition, around 30 Egyptian Businessmen and more than 40 Belgian companies took part.

Secretary General, Mr. Qaisar Hijazin in his welcome remarks said that the forum represents a good occasion for Belgian entrepreneurs to find out more about the various business opportunities offered by Egypt, expressed the great pleasure to welcome this important delegation for the eighth time, stressing on the good initiative and the precious collaboration of the Commercial Office-the Embassy of Egypt , furthermore he underlined the important role of Egypt as a leading Economy in the region.

Mr. Yahia Al wathik Bellah (Minister Plenipotentiary) Commercial Office-the Embassy of Egypt, underlined the importance of the new investment law that guarantees a number of protections for international investors to encourage new development in Egypt, the law contains policies to encourage significant and targeted investments.

H.E. Ambassador of Egypt to Belgium, Mr. Khaled El Bakly, stressed on the long history of friendship and collaboration between Egypt and Belgium, mentioning that before end of April a memorandum of Understanding will be signed between Egypt and EU in the framework of the preparation of Egypt to become an Energy hub for Mediterranean.

His Excellency underlined that the biggest solar station in the Middle east in build in Egypt, "The Country is taking important steps towards sustainability under a wise leadership," he stressed.

Furthermore Mr. Mohamed Youssef - GAFI (General Authority for Investment and Free Zones), presented the opportunities and facilities offered by Egypt to traders and businessmen, he gave a detailed overall view about the future major economy projects in the country.

Mr. Rafik Attia - Chairman of EBBA (Egyptian Belgian Business Association): Egyptian Belgian cooperation from a business perspective, he shed the light that Egypt have Money and infrastructure and need just to improve the research with expertise and know how, so he invited all the interested companies in various sectors to join the game.

The end of the seminar was marked by two testimonials from two Belgian companies in Egypt, Kellogs represented by Mr. Marco Montanaro – Director Public Affairs Europe, and Tractebel Engineering represented by Mr. Sven Goethals – Sales Manager.