TRADE & Investment KwaZulu-Natal recently hosted a Belgian delegation which was in the province to promote the advantages of using their country as a gateway to Europe for local companies.
The event was targeting South Africa exporters who want to streamline their operation in Europe either by setting up a distribution centre in Belgium or by partnering with Belgian local logistics players.
The mission was led by Jean-Pierre Muller, Trade Commissioner for Wallonia Export & Investment Agency and supported by Didier Vanderhasselt, Ambassador of Belgium to South Africa, and Tineke Van De Voorde, Business Development Advisor to the of Port of Antwerp.
Trade & Investment Advisor at Wallonia Export & Investment Agency, Julie Tirtiaux welcomed the guests and TIKZN Manager at the Gauteng Office, Donnee Kruger, led the discussion on the competitive and comparative advantages of investing in the province.
“The plans to modernise the Port of Durban are aimed at improving its efficiency and reclaim its status as the best-performing port in Africa. This will help the port perform its role of anchoring economic growth and serving as a gateway to southern Africa and the entire continent,” said Kruger.
Vanderhasselt said the delegation’s visit to KwaZulu-Natal was a great opportunity for Belgium to strengthen trade relations with KwaZulu-Natal.
“Belgium provides a good connection to the rest of Europe, a thriving entrepreneurial environment, and more than 500 million consumers within a radius of 800km. The economic fabric of Belgium mainly consists of SMMEs with a remarkable ability to fuel economic growth and create new job opportunities,” the ambassador added.
He pointed out that the European Union, a bloc of 27 members with Belgium at its heart, is the world’s largest single market and also South Africa’s most important trading partner providing 30% of the country’s total imports and accounting for 24% of exports.
Foreign trade is the lifeblood of the Belgian economy, and Belgium is also among the top 10 recipients of foreign direct investment in the world. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Belgium is thriving. Belgium is South Africa’s 12th customer, with total exports from South Africa to Belgium of R36.92 billion in 2020.
