Wallonia attracts €1.3bn in foreign investment as exports hit record high

Wallonia has recorded a strong rebound in foreign investment, reaching €1.3 billion in 2025 after a difficult period for global investment flows, newspaper L’Echo writes.

According to the Walloon export and investment agency Awex, 60 foreign investment projects were completed last year. These are expected to create around 1,361 jobs and represent a 34% rise in total investment value compared with 2024. It marks the region’s best performance since 2020.

Several large projects drove the growth. US sportswear company Skechers invested €350 million in a logistics centre in Milmort, creating around 150 jobs. Avesta Holding ABEE also built a €45 million battery assembly plant in Seneffe, adding another 150 jobs.

The recovery was also supported by company takeovers and expansions. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca spent €391 million to acquire Esobiotech, and later invested a further €10 million in its Mont-Saint-Guibert site. In total, 32 projects involved the expansion of firms already based in Wallonia.

France remained the largest foreign investor in the region, followed by the United States. However, Flanders ranked third in investment value and was the biggest contributor to job creation in Wallonia.

Alongside investment growth, Wallonia also posted record exports of €62.4 billion, up 12.6% on the previous year. This follows two years of decline and is partly linked to companies accelerating exports ahead of possible US tariff changes.

Pharmaceuticals dominated export activity, making up 44% of total exports and driving much of the growth in sales to the United States, which rose sharply to €9.7 billion.

^{© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}