Mr. Pierre Annoye, economic and trade counsellor of the Belgian Embassy: „Wallonia has a strong investment presence in Romania.”
Wallonia, open to the world
Located at the heart of Europe and within a market of 500 million consumers, Wallonia is an area where companies can set up and develop their business under favourable conditions. A space for innovation and competitiveness, where companies can make the most of their talents and use their know-how. An attractive and competitive region where companies benefit from intelligent taxation and a broad arsenal of financial, social and environmental aid. A region where hospitality, culture and tradition come together in a harmonious union.
Logistics: Wallonia, the best gateway in Europe for cross-border distribution
Thanks to its exceptional geographic position in Europe and its multimodal logistic ecosystem (ports, airports, railway network, motorway network, inland waterways), Wallonia has been chosen by many international companies as transit and distribution hub. With its several multimodal platforms and logistics parks, companies can easily ship their goods by air, by rail, by sea and by road and each of these modes of transportation are interconnected.
Beside the infrastructures and international connections, one can find here all the operators and service providers needed to handle, store and ship goods or distribute parcels.
Business – at the heart of Wallonia’s strategy
CLUSTERS: A DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR SME’S
Wallonia has been focusing on the re-launch of its economy through the creation of clusters, a combination of job creation and stimulation of economic activities, position training and teaching as cornerstones of employability and a better exploitation of sustainable development.
The Wallonia cluster policy incorporates two organisational structures: Business Clusters and Competitiveness Clusters.
Competitive clusters:
BIOWIN (Life sciences)
WAGRALIM (Agrifood)
GREENWIN (Environmental technologies)
SKYWIN (Aerospace)
LOGISTICS IN WALLONIA (Transport and logistics)
MECATECH (Mechanical engineering, advanced materials and industry 4.0)
Business Clusters:
H2O (Water sector)
EQUISFAIR (Equestrian industry)
CAP CONSTRUCTION (Sustainable building industry)
ECO-CONSTRUCTION (Green building)
INFOPOLE (ICT)
PLASTIWIN (Plastics industry)
TWEED (Technology of Wallonia, energy, environment and sustainable energy)
TWIST (Cinema and digital media)
Whereas Business Clusters are funded to develop an economic drive, Competitiveness Clusters are mainly supported to implement investment, R&D and training projects. Both types of clusters are intended to promote innovating industrial, commercial and technological partnerships.
SMART SPECIALISATION STRATEGY (S3)
In 2020, The Walloon Government adopted its thematic priorities or “Strategic Innovation Domains” for the coming years. The reflection took as its starting point the major societal challenges facing Wallonia and for which its innovation ecosystem is well positioned to provide innovative solutions and open up opportunities for economic development.
DIGITAL WALLONIA
Wallonia’s digital strategy, platform and brand, called Digital Wallonia, sets the framework for all of the actions in terms of Wallonia’s digital transformation. Over 500 million euros have been harnessed over four years for its implementation.
Five major themes shape Wallonia’s digital ambition: Digital sector, Digital Business, Skills and education, Public services and Digital territory.
Research and development: space to develop high-quality research projects and the skills to innovate
As regards enhancing its skills and creativity, Wallonia is especially reliant on its excellent intellectual resources. The region can draw upon a long-established educational system including 19 higher education schools and 5 Universities. Special interface departments have been set up to promote industrial and commercial development of products derived from basic research. A network of 7 science parks (SPoW- Science Parks of Wallonia) encourage the establishment and development of primarily high-tech type companies and promote relations between businesses and universities. The region’s capacity for innovation and the quality of its research in scientific fields are renowned throughout the world.
Foreign trade & Foreign direct investment
Wallonia’s economy displays a very high level of internationalisation. While the region represents approximately 0.1% of world GDP, its companies account for 0.3% of world trade. Moreover, 70% of the global turnover of Walloon companies goes to export, one of the highest
rates in the world (EU average: 30%). Wallonia’s dynamism in foreign markets is confirmed by an average export growth of 5,4% from 2017 to 2023, which puts Wallonia in a very good position compared to the export performance of its main European competitors over the same period (Germany +4.0%, France +4.7%, Netherlands +5.3%).
Companies in Wallonia: SOME FIGURES
80.931 private entreprises in Wallonia of which 99.3% are SMEs;
753,555 jobs;
9.3 employees on average per company;
950 new private enterprises created on average per year;
5,300 exporting firms are clients of the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX);
1,500 exporting companies on average per year benefit from the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency’s services.
Top 5 investors according
Foreign Direct Investments
Among the top 100 industrial companies in Wallonia, the share of companies controlled by foreign groups, or jointly controlled by Belgian and foreign interests, reaches 88% of turnover and 78% of the workforce. Overall, foreign companies established in Wallonia account for 75% of Walloon turnover and 65% of Walloon exports.
Top 6 reasons to invest in Wallonia
- Investment incentives
- Fiscal incentives
- R&D – Innovation
- Employment
- Best-in-class logistics
- Unique ecosystem
WALLONIA’S PRESENCE IN ROMANIA
Wallonia has a strong investment presence in Romania, with major players such as Sonaca Airspace Transilvania, with over 160 employees and a 20.000.000 euros turnover, Atenor, major players in the real estate industry and Carmeuse, with over 200 employees and a 42.000.000 euros turnover in 2024.
In terms of bilateral trade, Belgium ranks at 17 in terms of exports and number 14 in terms of imports.
Wallonia Export & Investment Agency
The Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX in French) is the body responsible for both promoting foreign trade and attracting foreign investment in the Wallonia Region of Belgium. This public service Agency runs a network of 79 economic and commercial representatives’offices across the world. The Agency holds the ISO 9001 certification.
The Agency has two general competences:
The promotion of Walloon exports, for which it acts as a complete support partner for the Walloon exporter;
The attraction of foreign investment in Wallonia, for which it acts as a one-stop shop for any prospective investor.
Wallonia Export & Investment Agency
www.investinwallonia.be / www.wallonia.be
