The Indian Chamber of Commerce organized an exclusive session on business opportunities for Indian companies in Flanders, Belgium. The session was held at the Bengal Club. The session highlighted the business and investment potential in Flanders.

The session was organized in the presence of Babette Desfossez, Trade and Investment Commissioner for Flanders, Filippe De Potter, Director, and Global Coordinator, Inward Investment, Flanders Investment and Trade, Brussels Daljit Singh Kohli, Indian Representative- Port of Antwerp- Bruges and Pradeep Sureka, President, ICC.

Babette Desfossez, the Trade and Investment Commissioner for Flanders said “The country is ideally situated in the middle of Europe and is a popular commercial destination. Flanders accounts for 60% of Europe’s purchasing power. Our economy is export-oriented. The main imports and exports in 2020 and 2021 were chemicals, medicines, mechanical equipment, and precious metals and stones”.

“The entrance to Europe is Flanders,” said Filippe De Potter, Director and Global Coordinator, Inward Investment, Flanders Investment and Trade, Brussels. “It is geographically well connected with tremendously powerful neighbors-1 billion in weekly trade with France and 70 billion in exports to Germany. Our region is home to hundreds of medium-sized businesses. We feel that Flanders will assist in the expansion of your business because we are aware of the need, growth, and potential in India” added De Potter.

Daljit Singh Kohli, Indian Representative- Port of Antwerp- Bruges said that The Port of Antwerp- Bruges is Europe’s second largest port. It is around 14,322 hectares and is a multi-operational port. The port is well connected with more than 1200 locations. The Port of Antwerp- Bruges is trying to reduce its carbon footprints and capture them for future uses.

Pradeep Sureka, President of ICC said that in 2021, exports and imports from Flanders were close to 6 billion euros. Synergy is the key concept of Flanders and it is not new to Indian Enterprises. India is one of the most significant Asian trading partners of Flanders.