Tag Archives: belgium

Flemish exports reach record height in 2013

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According to an article in the Flemish newspaper De Tijd exports from Flanders – one three regions in Belgium, the others are Wallonia and Brussels – grew in 2013 to a new record height. In comparison with the previous year exports increased by 1.64% to 294 billion euro. Flanders represents 83% of all Belgian exports. All the numbers originate from Flanders Investment and Trade.

Aside from all these positive macro-economic data, COGNEGY itself has seen a growing interest for the US market by many Belgian SMEs. More feasibility studies than ever before are being run, and more client businesses are enjoying our support with the execution of their growth strategies on the US market.
Another notable positive trend is the realization by many entrepreneurs that such a market entry has to be well prepared. Far more than in the recent past, they recognize the importance of early identification of ‘hurdles‘ and ‘springboards‘ (the opposite of a hurdle, an accelerator) and the understanding of competitive environments, which leads invariably to a stronger value proposition and in turn to more successful customer acquisition.
The original text was published in De Tijd – and can be found here http://www.tijd.be/r/t/1/id/9484774.
All numbers quoted originate from FIT – Flanders Investment & Trade.

 

What are you waiting for…?

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BELGIUM IS LEADING DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT INTO THE US.

Data released on March 14, 2012 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that in 2011 Belgium was the leading foreign direct investor into the United States. 

Foreign direct investment in the United States (FDIUS) measures the equity capital flows, reinvested earnings and intercompany debt flows between US affiliates and their parents abroad. In order words it is a measure for the ‘business activity’.

The key findings of the published document on FDIUS are:

  • Total investment in 2011 reached $227.9 billion which is only a small 4% decrease over the previous year
  • Belgium is the leading foreign investor with $43.8 billion (19.2%) followed by Switzerland ($29.2b) and Luxembourg ($19.4b)
  • Other leading countries were Japan, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany

It is remarkable that countries such as the UK, France, India, Brazil and China are absent from the top 10 list. The report also shows that Europe remains the most important region to invest into the US representing 65% of total investments.

The question is what have they seen that you have not?

The United States economy continues to pick up and various economic indicators are illustrating this steady – however slightly bumpy – ride north.

It enjoys a business success culture that puts up few hurdles to start a business, providing access to a huge homogeneous market with 312 million consumers who have a healthy appetite for things better and new.

What are you waiting for – it’s only one feasibility study away.

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All data used in this article are based on the ‘Foreign Direct Investment in the United States’ document released on March 14, 2012 by the Organization for International Investment. Data are preliminary and subject to revision.