Future activities of the ABLCC

Friday 7 December 2018 - 40th anniversary celebration

On Friday 07 December, the ABLCC will celebrate its 40th anniversary together with all its partners, members, and friends from the Arab world, Luxembourg and Belgium during a refined Gala Dinner.

This prestigious event offers an exceptional occasion to meet and network with an impressive number of leading figures from business communities as well as high-level representatives from Arab countries, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

The event will also host an Award Ceremony to recognize extraordinary business individuals that have supported the ABLCC over the years.

We are looking forward to celebrating with you this milestone anniversary!

Attendance is by invitation only, should you want more information please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

New Members of the Chamber

BOSTANI CHOCOLATE

As leaders in manufacturing of an exclusive collection of premium-personalized chocolates and luxury cases, Bostani Chocolatier supplies corporate and retail sectors in order to keep delivering the best products locally, regionally and globally with the highest standards of quality, awesome concepts and designs. From the Kingdom of Belgium, Bostani’s home country, the heart of the chocolate business over the times, to Asia through the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, the remarkable and strong market for European business, Bostani Chocolatier makes the difference. Thanks to their state-of-the-art factories, Bostani continually develops distinctive and high quality services to impress at first sight and at first bite.

Avenue Ernest Solvay 26, 1480 Tubize
website:www.bostanichocolate.com
email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MD3 SCULPTURES

MD3 is active in the production of high end sculptures in bronze, gold and platina. Mark D3 started his career as a craftsman more than thirty-three years ago. For over twelve years he made bronze sculptures for other artists until he gave in to his inner need to start creating for himself. Thanks to the skills he had acquired, Mark made a swift impact on the arts market, rapidly gaining a wide customer base. Mark D3 works on each step in the realization process : from creation through to finishing and finally going to market. Only the best of materials are selected and only the very best in finishing is good enough for Mark’s discerning clientele. It was only nine years ago that he produced his very first gyrfalcon for the Middle East market, which was sold out in no time. In Abu Dhabi, Mark will be showcasing the fruition of his grail of the past decade: three brand new sculptures, designed and manufactured especially for the highly demanding Middle East art lovers.

Bergsebaan 66, 2960 Sint-Job
website:https://md3sculptures.com
email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MITSOUMAR

Mitsoumar is active in dry cargo chartering, consultancy in port logistic management, stock management and general surveys. The company trades also in power generation in marine propulsion, and is a consultant in shipping and ports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Saudi-Arabia.

Verhoevenlei 1, 2930 Brasschaat
website:www.mitsoumar.com
email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SPRIMONT BLUE

In the heart of the Liege region, in the south of Belgium, lies one of the most beautiful Belgian blue stone quarries in operation. A stone of extraordinary purity, SprimontBlue® stone combines the best characteristics of petit granit (Belgian blue stone). Combining an inherited traditional know-how with cutting-edge technology, the stone is quarried in an environmentally responsible manner way by people whose skills continue to be passed down from generation to generation. From the bridge at Fragnée in Liege in 1900 to the new Guillemins railway station in 2012, SprimontBlue® stone has contributed for more than a century to the construction of an exceptional architectural heritage. SprimontBlue® stone is exported throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the USA.

Rue Joseph Potier 13, 4140 Sprimont
website:www.carrieres-sprimont.be
email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Economic News from the Arab world

ARAB WORLD

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) results

The recently issued “FDI Report 2018” gives an overview of the foreign investment figures for 2017 in the Arab world and worldwide. The figures for the Middle East and North-Africa look promising. The number of FDI-projects increased by 25% in Oman, 15% in Bahrain, 11% in Morocco and 8% in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The number of jobs created increased too. The UAE stays by far the main destiny for global foreign investment. Capital investment in Oman went up by an impressive 32% to 23.1 billion dollar.

ALGERIA

Boosting the economy

The Central Bank of Algeria allocated loans of more than 80 billion U.S. dollars to public and private sectors in the first half of 2018, a 6% increase compared with a year ago, according to a report issued by the bank. Loans assigned to the public sector rose by 7.6% to more than 39 billion dollars compared with a year ago, while those allocated to the private sector amounted to some 40 billion dollars, with an increase of 4.3% over the same period last year. The report said that 54.51% of the loans are long-term credits allocated to state-run companies in the hydrocarbons sector. Short-term loans accounted for 26.8%, while the share of medium-term loans stood at 18.62%.

BAHRAIN

Government implements VAT

Bahrain’s parliament has approved the introduction of 5% value-added tax (VAT) in the kingdom from January 1 2019. The bill, which would see Bahrain join the UAE and Saudi Arabia in implementing VAT, must also be approved by the parliament’s Upper House. “The introduction of VAT will be a big challenge for the local Bahrain market,” said Michael Camburn, Bahrain Indirect Tax Leader at Deloitte Middle East. “Businesses now have less than four months to be prepared for these changes”. Camburn added that “if organisations have so far not yet started, they should start immediately assessing the impact of the tax on their operations.” The implementation of VAT was one of a number of reforms announced by Bahraini authorities, which also includes changes to its pension system and a new subsidy program. Bahrain announced a fiscal overhaul meant to balance its budget by 2022.

DUBAI

Tourism strategy

Dubai has approved an ambitious tourism strategy to attract 21 to 23 million tourists by 2022 and 25 million visitors by 2025. This is part of a strategy to strengthen Dubai’s position as a favoured destination and the most visited city in the world. The strategy was approved during a meeting of the Dubai Executive Council (DEC), chaired by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of DEC. The strategy focuses on ensuring that Dubai is not impacted by fundamental changes in the future, and to be a leader when it comes to changes in the tourism sector. It also will seek to boost growth in major tourist exporting markets and diversifying sources from markets with high potential. Shaikh Hamdan said that plans and strategies to develop the tourism sector entail Dubai’s limitless ambition to bolster the emirate’s global position in the tourism field.

DUBAI/ABU DHABI

New rivièra between the two emirates

Work on AlJurf, a fully integrated second-home destination along Sahel Al Emarat, will start in 2019. A 370-hectare project boasting 3.4km of azure beachfront will be realised. Once complete, the destination will comprise three distinct districts -AlJurf Gardens, Jiwar Al Qasr and Marsa AlJurf- each with its own defining architectural characteristics and a range of facilities and amenities. The destination will feature two marinas, private berths, a town centre, hotels, retail, a wellness resort and clinic component, serviced residences and villas. AlJurf will also provide residents with access to public and private beaches, beach clubs and restaurants, community centers, parks, mosques, clinics and a private school.

EGYPT

Export of engineering products

Engineering products include a wide array of goods from home appliances such as refrigerators, ovens and heaters to cars, heavy machinery and even tractors, with some 21 sub-sectors being involved in the engineering industries. Egypt sells $2.7 billion worth of engineering products abroad annually. Finished goods represent around half of Egypt’s total exports. Fertilisers, textiles, ready-made garments, home appliances and wires and cables top the list of finished goods. Other exports include crude oil and oil products, raw materials such as crops, and semi-finished goods as iron and piping. The Export Council has set out to change these figures and to set up new companies to export and increase the exporter base. It is doing this in addition to traditional services such as organizing trade missions and taking part in exhibitions abroad. The Development Strategy (IDS) for 2016-2020 targets increasing the annual industrial growth rate to 8%. It also wants to increase the contribution of industrial production to GDP from 18 to 21%.

IRAQ

oil export from south Iraq booming

Oil exports from southern Iraq are heading for a record high, two industry sources said, adding to signs that OPEC’s second-largest producer is following through on a deal to raise supply. Southern Iraqi exports in the first 19 days of September averaged 3.6 million barrels per day, according to ship-tracking data compiled by an industry source, up 20,000 bpd from August’s 3.58 million bpd — the existing monthly record. The increase follows June’s pact among OPEC and allied producers to boost supply after they had curbed output since 2017 to remove a glut. Iraq in August provided OPEC’s second-largest increase as shipments drop from Iran, which is facing renewed US sanctions. A second industry source who tracks shipments also said exports had averaged 3.6 million bpd, reflecting smooth operations at export terminals and no sign that unrest in Basra, Iraq’s second city, was disrupting flows.

JORDAN

Jordan attractive for foreign investors

Companies like Expedia, Microsoft and Cisco have set up bases or invested in Jordan's capital Amman. Minister Shehadeh : "We're active and we're seeing lots of people being interested in Jordan. Secondly, tourism numbers are growing and I hear that tourism numbers are up 15% versus last year." Jordan has created development zones in different parts of the country with each area tackling different sectors, such as technology or logistics. The zones are designed to attract both local and foreign investments. Jordan's Investment Commission has tried to attract businesses by offering low tax rates, including a 5 percent rate of income tax on income generated from all economic and manufacturing activities undertaken in such zones.

KUWAIT

Smart city development

South Saad Al Abdullah city in Kuwait is billed as the Middle East’s first development to be both green and ‘smart’. Construction work on the site, which will cover 64 square-kilometres and cost an estimated US$4 billion, is expected to start late next year. The smart city is part of the country’s 30-year vision to transform itself into a hub for trade, finance and tourism, cutting its dependency on oil revenues. The project is being developed in partnership with South Korea and once finished, it will home around 400,000 people. Whilst South Saad Al Abdullah is still a few years off, smart technologies are already being built into other new housing developments like South Al-Mutlaa, close to the capital. The foundations are just being laid for what is Kuwait's largest housing project so far - with more than 28,000 homes being created. Kuwait's oldest souk is also being earmarked for the ‘smart’ treatment. Kuwait is one of many countries in the Middle East with ambitious plans to develop connected, competitive and convenient cities - contributing to the global smart cities market which it’s estimated will be worth $2.6 trillion by 2025.

LEBANON

Beirut electricity project

Electricité du Liban (EDL) has launched the tender to implement the second phase of the Beirut River Solar Snake (BRSS) project, which is expected to generate seven megawatts (MW) of electricity. The BRSS aims to build a solar energy farm on top of the Beirut River by covering it with photovoltaic panels. The project was designed to be built over ten phases, each expected to produce one MW. “The EDL got encouraged by the project and went ahead to build seven megawatts,” said Pierre Khoury, Director of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation. The second phase will see the installation of solar panels across 2,100 meters over the river's bed. EDL commissioned the first phase of the BRSS in 2015. Twenty-five international and local companies bid on the project. The $3.4 million contract was awarded to a joint venture between local firms Asaco and Phoenix. The first phase produces one MW. “We expect that the new tender will attract at least 50 to 60 interested companies,” Khoury said. Panels will be linked to the national power grid run by the EDL. Once complete, the BRSS will provide 10,000 households with electricity. Companies that wish to bid on the project are requested to visit EDL offices to pick up the tender documents. Bids must be submitted by December 21.

MOROCCO

Morocco biggest African car producer

Morocco topped the podium of the biggest car producers in the African continent, outpacing South Africa. In 2017, Morocco’s two leading car factories in Tangier and Kenitra achieved a joint output of 376,000 cars, worth 70 billion dirhams. Between 2014 and 2017, total jobs created in the automotive sector in Morocco rose to 83,845. Last month, media reports said talks are ongoing between Morocco and the German car giant Volkswagen to set up a plant. Morocco raised its automotive industry target to 1 million vehicles by 2025 in light of the positive results shown by the sector, which is a valuable source of foreign currency for the country and which could generate 200 billion dirhams. Cars dominated Morocco’s exports in the first six months of 2018 with 35.973 billion Dirhams, as the country continues to attract automotive investments.

OMAN

Oman diversifies economy

Oman's economy is witnessing a structural transformation, with increased diversification leading to accelerated non-oil economic activities and reduced dependence on the hydrocarbon sector over the last few years. All three non-oil hydrocarbon groups (industry, services, and agriculture and fishing) witnessed growth in 2017. The agriculture and fishing sector is gaining focus due to huge scope, especially in fishing, as Oman is endowed with a long marine belt. The services sector continued on the upward trajectory and grew by 4.6% in nominal terms in 2017 and accounted for a 51.6% share in the overall GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The overall employment in the public sector recorded a growth of 1.8% in 2016, marginally higher as compared with 1.6% in 2015 but much lower compared with the average 7.8% during 2013 and 2014.

QATAR

Qatar expands economic zones to encourage SME’s

Qatar announced a major expansion of the economic zones for small and medium enterprises (SME’s) by developing an additional area of 825,000 square meter and providing the necessary infrastructure and basic services for industrial projects. The expansion would be completed in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019. With this, the total area of economic zones will exceed 11 million square meters. “Our goal is to increase the private sector output as a percentage of the national GDP. Your enhanced activities will bring better prosperity for our country,” minister al-Sada says. Al-Sada also launched an ‘industrial database’, an interactive electronic platform, which will have strategic importance in industrial planning.

SAUDI ARABIA

Improved economic outlook

The latest data released by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) points to an improving economic outlook. The data showed that credit to the private sector climbed for the fourth consecutive month in July while consumers also spent more, with point of sale transactions up by about a quarter on a year earlier. Cash withdrawls from ATM machines also rose more than 12 percent on a year earlier. The rebounding oil price has improved economic sentiment in the Kingdom and boosted expectations for economic growth. Last month the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it expected real GDP-growth to increase to 1.9% in 2018, with non-oil growth strengthening to 2.3%. The IMF was broadly upbeat on the Saudi banking sector with credit and deposit growth although weak, expected to strengthen due to higher spending and non-oil growth. Bank profitability was also expected to increase as interest margins widen and banks remain well capitalized.

Tunisia

Public-private partnerships (PPS)

Tunisia will offer public-private partnership projects for the energy, transport and other sectors worth 13 billion dinars ($4.7 billion), to revive the economy and create jobs, the investment minister told Reuters. The partnerships include a deep water port at Ennfidha city and subway in the eastern city of Sfax as well as water, environment, logistic and technology projects. “We will present soon at an international conference major projects aimed at re-attracting new investments that will contribute to the creation of employment opportunities, raise Tunisia’s foreign currency revenues and revive growth”, investment minister Zied Ladhari said. “Today investors should know that Tunisia is a competitive destination with many privileges. We aim to attract investors from Europe, America and the Gulf,” he added.

Tunisians drink Belgian milk

Semi-fat milk imported from Belgium is available in large areas in Tunisia since the beginning of October. A first batch of 3 million liters has been delivered and will be followed by a second batch of 7 million liters. In the state of Tataouine, milk will be delivered by French and Spanish companies.

News from Belgian companies

BESIX

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and the Belgian infrastructure firm Besix have signed a joint venture agreement to operate an existing wastewater treatment plant at Al Saja’a in the UAE called Qatra. This newly established firm will continue developing wastewater infrastructure as per the city’s masterplan. Besix played a fundamental role in constructing the Burj Khalifa and the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. As per the expansion plans, the plant will be able to maximise the amount of reused water produced, which will in turn double the daily recycling capacity from 30 million litres of water to 60 million litres. This water will be primarily channelized for industrial use.

SOLVAY

Ilham Kadri becomes Chairman of the Executive Committee, member of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Belgian Group Solvay (chemical). Ilham Kadri is CEO and President of U.S. hygiene technology and services company Diversey. She worked for multinationals like Shell-Basell, UCB-Cytec, Huntsman and Dow Chemical across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and in Asia. A holder of Moroccan and French nationalities, Ilham Kadri has an engineering degree from the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials Science in Strasbourg, France, and a PhD in macromolecular physico-chemistry from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg.

Fairs, Conferences and Exhibitions

Food Expo Casablanca

6-8 December 2018

FOODEXPO will be the most powerful trade and communication platform for the sector attempting to enter the incredibly fast‐growing African market.

• FOODEXPO offers participants from all over the world an unrivalled opportunity to meet potential partners, suppliers, customers and investors. It is the great way to expand your business skills by sharing and comparing ideas with highly motivated entrepreneurs just like you.
• We personally follow and invite top buyers, distributors & importers as well as key product managers from the worldwide leading brands.
• FoodExpo is covered by local and international newspapers, radio & TV channels, major websites and opinion‐makers blogs. Throughout the year, a strong promotion campaign is promoted by our team through tradeshow partners, sponsors, e‐newsletters, social networks and etc.
• Business Match‐Making is a free & privileged service at Food Expo for organizing business meetings between companies and buyers to achieve mutually beneficial results.

Arab Health Dubai

28-31 January 2019

Arab Health is the largest gathering of healthcare companies, technology, products and services in the MENA region. Taking place from 28 - 31 January 2019, the event is expected to welcome more than 4,150 exhibiting companies and 84,500 attendees from 160+ countries.

International Jordan Food Exhibition 2019

3-7 April 2019

We have the honor to invite you to participate in the 4th edition of the international Jordan Food Exhibition (IJFE) 2019, which will be held from 3 until 7 April 2019. It will be the largest international food exhibition in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to continue the success for its three previous editions. IJFE is one of the best exhibitions in Jordan in terms of organization and the expansion of participating companies. The fair is considered as a big event in the sector. We are looking forward to host foreign companies at this international event.

Tenders

Dubai issues biggest single tender to develop Al Maktoum Int'l

Al Maktoum International is envisaged as the biggest in the world, accommodating 130 million passengers per annum in its first phase of opening in 2030.

The substructure package tender by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) - described as the biggest single value contract issued to date - consists of over 1.7 million square metres of connected basement footprint to house the future services of the airport.

The package will include the foundations, basement walls, columns, basement slabs and top slabs for the first 2.7km long concourse, West Terminal Building, Short Term Car Park and the Staff Car Park with a depth exceeding 18 metres underground and around 5.5 million cubic metres of concrete to be poured.

For more information: http://daep.gov.ae

Interested in tenders or Business proposals?

The Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce receives invitations to tenders and Business opportunities from its various partners on a regular basis. This service is exclusively provided to ABLCC members.

Would you also like to benefit from these and other ABLCC services?

Join the ABLCC membership today and enjoy the full range of advantages offered by our Chamber. Subscribe here.

Brochure and subscription form
Brochure en inschrijvingsformulier
Brochure et demande d’adhésion
مزايا الانضمام لعضوية الغرفة و طلـب انتســـاب الغرفة

You are welcome to return the completed form to us by e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or fax (32 2 347 57 64).

Chamber News and Recent Activities

Meeting with Egyptian Minister Dr. Sahar Nasr

16 October 2018

On Tuesday October 16th, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, in close collaboration with the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Egyptian Embassy, organized a Round Table on the occasion of the visit to Luxembourg of H.E. Dr. Sahar Nasr, Egyptian Minister for Investment and International Cooperation. For Dr. Nasr, who met with 20 Luxembourg companies, it was the start of a European investment tour.

“Recently, Egypt has adopted an ambitious economic stimulus plan encompassing a number of national megaprojects such as the construction of the New Administrative Capital, a world-class free zone and trade hub along the banks of the newly-expanded Suez Canal, and the largest solar site in Africa. With all these projects among many others, the Egyptian market continues to be the leading market in the region offering unprecedented opportunities capturing the attention of the international investors”, stated Minister Nasr.

There are a number of sectors that are promising both for Luxembourg and Egyptian companies such as ICT, film business, the start-up sector, renewable energy, green bonds and logistics. Luxembourg and Egypt decided to establish a joint committee for economic, technical, and investment cooperation.

The European Investment Bank (EIB), situated in Luxembourg, signed an agreement with the Egyptian government for 214 million euro to support the Kitchener Drain depollution project. This initiative will improve the sanitation and solid waste services for about 6 million people in the Nile delta region (north Egypt). As Minister Sahar Nasr toured in Europe, we learned that the World Bank (WB) has pledged 3 billion dollars for infrastructure projects in the Sinai peninsula - a direct result of negotiations between Egypt’s investment Minister and the WB.

 

Seminar: “Perspectives économiques : la Tunisie, terre d’avenir, hub pour l’Afrique”

24 October 2018

The Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Embassy of Tunisia, FIPA Tunisia (Foreign Investment Promotion Agency) and the Province of Namur in organizing a business forum entitled “Perspectives économiques : la Tunisie terre d'avenir hub pour l'Afrique” on Wednesday 24 October in Namur.

After the welcome words of Mr. Berger, President of CWFFA, Mr. Denis Mathen,  the governor of Namur, and HE Ben Mosbah, new Ambassador of Tunisia in Brussels, the audience was informed about the legal framework for investments in Tunisia along with the funding and support tools available. An interactive panel gave the opportunity to share experiences with Belgian companies already present in the country.

Before joining a networking lunch offered by the Embassy of Tunisia in Brussels, Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, Secretary-General of the ABLCC, delivered the closing remarks of the forum insisting on the importance of developing a win-win partnership.

 

9th edition of the seminar « Doing Business with Arab Countries »

2 October 2018

Belgian companies motivated to expand their business activities in the Arab world

On 2 October 2018, many Belgian companies gathered in Antwerp in the offices of SGS to share business practices with a fine selection of Arab and Belgian experts, chambers of commerce, enterprises and diplomats. Yes, the Arab world is confronted with a lot of challenges but is still fully recognized as a rewarding environment for investments in the global economy.

Mr. Qaisar HIJAZIN, Secretary-General of the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ABLCC), was proud to welcome numerous big and small companies from very different economic sectors, and representatives from Arab embassies present in Brussels, the capital of Europe. He was glad to see that Belgian companies are really motivated to take part to this yearly tradition called “Doing Business with Arab countries : Theory and Practice”.

Mr. Yahya Elwathik BELLAH, Minister Plenipotentiary/Commercial Office at the Embassy of Egypt, gave an overview of the multiple economic reforms realized by the Egyptian government. Doing business in Egypt is now easier than in the past, as confirmed by different international and financial institutions. The construction of a new capital 15km from Cairo, the activities around the Suez Canal, the creation of economic zones and the revision and simplification of the economic legislation creates numerous opportunities for companies.

And what about the Gulf ? Mr. Houssam NASRAWIN, CEO of investment and advisory firm GDC partners, is active in the region from his office in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates - UAE). The countries in this part of the Arab world are investing in new economic sectors now that the price of oil continues its downward trend. Belgian and Luxembourg companies active in finance, distribution, infrastructure, tourism, etc. are advised to keep this in mind. But don’t think you will automatically be successful in the Gulf because you are great in Belgium, Luxembourg or Europe : being well prepared for meetings with your Arab counterparts and really knowing the country and the economic sectors you have in mind is essential.

If you export products to Saudi-Arabia, the biggest country in the Gulf, you have to be aware of the legislation when it comes to conformity of your products. Thanks to a conference-call broadcasted during the seminar, Eng. Wajih Bin Muhamad MUNSHI from SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation) explained the ins and outs of the requirements.

Mr. Jozef SOMERS, Operation Manager of SGS (a partner of ABLCC, active in inspection, verification, testing and certification) explained the services his company can deliver along with the Web-based Innovations made by SGS. SGS is very familiar with the Arab world.

Time for discussion and debate

Mrs. Evelien STAELENS, Area Manager Middle East & North Africa at FIT (Flanders Investment & Trade) moderated a debate with three Belgian companies successful in various Arab countries. Mrs. Monique LEMPEREUR (Continental Carbon – industrial rubber and carbon), Mr. Hendrik VAN PASSEL (Medic Clean Air – medical devices) and Mr. Malik BOUKEBBOUS (DEME – dredging, infra marine solutions, etc.) talked about their experiences in the Arab world. They do agree that doing business in Arab countries is very fascinating. They will continue to work in the region and are motivated to expand their businesses overseas. And yes, they advise other Belgian companies not to forget this region of the world so close to Europe. But, of course, as a Belgian and Luxembourg company you have to understand the cultural differences between Europe and the MENA-region (Middle East and North Africa) and do your homework. Be well prepared before starting negotiations with Arab governments and enterprises.

Before joining an excellent buffet, the companies present at the seminar in Antwerp had the opportunity to join workshops with Mr. BELLAH (Embassy of Egypt) and Mr. NASRAWIN (GDC Partners). This was an excellent occasion for our Belgian friends to obtain detailed answers to their specific questions about doing business in Egypt and in the 6 Gulf countries. Much appreciated.

 

Lunch conference with HEM Mohamed Issa Abushahaba
UAE-Ambassador at the EU in Brussels

03 July 2018

On the occasion of its last Board meeting and Assembly General, the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce found it opportune to organize a Lunch-conference on "Opportunity and Investment: Deepening the UAE's Economic Partnerships".

And who better than the Ambassador of the UAE himself, His Excellency Mohamed Issa ABUSHAHAB, could give us a more valuable insight on the matter?

During his presentation, Ambassador Abushahab explained that “enabling business to thrive is a key motivator in the UAE”. Adding that the UAE’s stable and strong economic context is characterized by flexibility and diversity, and that they are constantly reforming their commercial legislative landscape to ensure it is at the forefront of global institutional excellence.

HE Abushahab underlined the fact that The UAE is ranked 21st globally by the World Bank (WB) for ease of doing business, and 17th in terms of global competitiveness. Recalling that the UAE is unparalleled in terms of its regional and global connectivity. “We are a leader in the global logistics index, excelling in international shipments, customs, infrastructure, and timeliness”.

He then continued his analysis by giving the audience further insights on UAE's Vision 2021 and Expo 2020.

He also drew attention to the fact that EXPO 2020, for which more than 170 countries have confirmed their participation, will act as a unique gateway to the Middle East, also targeting vital markets in Africa and South Asia.

This event was also a great occasion for the participants to meet face-to-face with His Excellency Abushahab and to expand their network as it gathered together distinguished guests from the Arab world (such as the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers), Arab Ambassadors, Belgian agencies for foreign trade, representatives from the Belgian and Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, and Belgian and Luxembourg Enterprises.

www.economy.gov.ae

Top Reasons to Become a Member

The Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ABLCC) informs and supports Belgian and Luxemburgish companies willing to export to or invest in the Arab world, and delivers the same services to Arab companies from the 22 Arab countries with their business projects for Belgium and Luxembourg.

ABLCC means organization of seminars and business trips, advice to Belgian, Luxembourgish and Arab companies, set-up of b2b and b2g-meetings, document certification, translation & visa services, publication of tenders and business opportunities, an extended economic and diplomatic network in the Benelux and the Arab world, a newsletter and business directory, and so much more.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or consult or website, www.ablcc.org.

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