Flemish minister president on first industry mission to France
Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon will travel to France from Tuesday to Thursday for a first-ever industry mission.
The aim is to strengthen the industrial ecosystem through partnerships between governments, companies and knowledge institutions.
This will be Jambon's last mission abroad before the elections. He will visit Lyon, Grenoble, Paris and Lille with 41 companies and agencies.
Future Pact
The programme includes a visit to the French innovation clusters Axelera and Techtera. Companies with a strong presence in Belgium, such as food giant Danone, yeast producer Lesaffre and retailer Decathlon, will also be visited.
A meeting between Flemish and French aviation companies and a round table with CEOs of major French investors in Flanders are also on the agenda. Finally, Jambon will also meet the French secretary of state for Digitalisation, Marina Ferrari.
The mission is intended as an extension of the Future Pact for Flemish Industry, which the Flemish government signed with sector associations last month.
Strategic autonomy
Europe's industry is losing ground to other regions, and some believe a strong European industry is also necessary for the continent's strategic autonomy. Flanders, known for its knowledge-based economy, attracts investment, but it considers technology and innovation to be two crucial aspects to maintain and strengthen this position.
Cross-border cooperation is very important in this respect. The choice of France is "logical", as the country is Flanders' second largest investor and third largest trading partner. France has also been investing heavily in industrialisation in recent years.
#FlandersNewsService | © Flemish minister president Jan Jambon at the Flemish Industry Summit in March 2024 © BELGA PHOTO TOM GOYVAERTS
Related news
