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Leveraging FDI for Knowledge-Based Competitiveness in Europe: A Case Study of Wallonia

Explore how Wallonia promotes innovation, exports, and FDI through competitiveness clusters and strategic partnerships in key sectors.

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Leveraging FDI for Knowledge-Based Competitiveness in Europe: A Case Study of Wallonia

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  1. The role of FDI in developing knowledge-based competitiveness in European regions : The case of Wallonia Graz, 23 April 2010 Philippe Suinen, CEO of AWEX Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency WWW.WALLONIA-INTERNATIONAL.BE

  2. Wallonia’s institutional context • Belgium : A federal state with 3 regions holding significant competencies • Walloon Region • Population : 3.4 millions (32% of country) • Capital : Namur • Main cities : Liège, Charleroi, Mons, Nivelles, Tournai, Arlon, Wavre, Verviers • Flemish Region (58% of the Belgian population : 6.1 million inhabitants) • Brussels-Capital Region (10% of the Belgian population : 1.0 million inhabitants)

  3. WALLONIA : an autonomous region • Holds important powers in matters related to its economic development • Economic policy • Foreign trade and investment • Employment and professional training • Scientific research and new technologies • Transport and public works • Environment, urban and rural development • Agriculture, energy and water • Tourism • Foreign relations in all these areas

  4. AWEX : key figures and structure • Agency of the Walloon Region of Belgium in charge of promoting foreign trade and attracting foreign investment (created in 1998) • An universal public service legally bound to the Walloon Government by a Management Contract • Headquarters in Brussels (foreign trade) and Namur (foreign investment) • 7 regional centres in Wallonia • Worldwide network of 107 economic and commercial representatives • 450 employees (200 of which abroad) • Budget 2009 : 72 million euros • Certified ISO 9001 since 2002

  5. MAKING WALLONIA ATTRACTIVE • ATTRACTING FDITHROUGH KNOWLEDGE IN : • Promoting innovation : innovative processes and products • Support for exports • Networking and EU institutions • Logistics • Interculturality and involvement of young people

  6. 1. KNOWLEDGE IN PROMOTING INNOVATIVE PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS • The development of competitiveness clusters since 2005 : a new industrial policy • research and development projects (€ 195 millions) • training and employment schemes (€ 22 millions) • export promotion and foreign investment attractiveness (€ 10 millions) • general investment incentives (€ 7 millions) • public investment in assets and holdings specific to clusters (€ 1 million) www.wallonia-international.be WALLONIA : YOUR PARTNER REGION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

  7. WALLOON COMPETITIVENESS CLUSTERS • Priority given to the most promising growth sectors: • Life sciences (Biowin) • Aeronautics and aerospace (Skywin) • Mechanical engineering (Mecatech) • Transport and logistics (Logistics in Wallonia) • Food-processing industry (Wagralim) www.wallonia-international.be WALLONIA : YOUR PARTNER REGION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

  8. WALLOON COMPETITIVENESS CLUSTERS • Track record since 2005 : • 495 total participants (229 private sector firms, 157 university departments,51 research units and 58 training centres) • 123 projects underway (70 R&D projects, 39 training projects and14 investment projects) representing a total budget of € 379 millions(of which € 225 millions of public aid) • 8,700 new jobs created in the medium-term • Recruitment within AWEX of 5 high-level FDI experts specialised in the search for foreign investors in the sectors covered by the clusters : • Responsible for 54 foreign investments in Wallonia representing€ 208 millions and the creation of 834 new jobs • 30% of all foreign investments concluded successfully by AWEX in 2009 • 110 international actions undertaken in cooperation with AWEX • 15 cooperation agreements signed with foreign clusters www.wallonia-international.be WALLONIA : YOUR PARTNER REGION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

  9. KNOWLEDGE IN PROMOTING INNOVATIVE PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS • A magnet for foreign investment • 138 spin-offs originating from Wallonia’s universities, representing 54% of Belgium’s total (weight of the Walloon economy within Belgium is 24%) • 6 science parks which are vectors for partnerships between research centers and industry • 3 incubators providing support for start-ups in emerging technologies: Wallonia Space Logistics, Wallonia Biotech Coaching and GIGA (applied genomics) • 2 Welcome Offices for Chinese and Indian investors offering services to launch their activities in Europe www.wallonia-international.be WALLONIA : YOUR PARTNER REGION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

  10. 2. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • International network of 107 Economic and Commercial Representatives in partnership with Flanders Investment & Trade and Bruxelles Export • 81 run by AWEX (of which 34 are shared with FIT and Bruxelles Export) • 12 in partnership with FIT • 14 in partnership with Bruxelles Export • 4 ‘foreign investment’ prospectors (Tokyo, Shanghai, Chicago, San Francisco)

  11. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • Efficient information system • General and commercial information on foreign markets • Market studies tailored to specific demands • Seminars on commercial and cultural approaches to specific markets • Communication of business opportunities, international tenders and information on projects financed by international organisations

  12. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • Wide-ranging annual export action plan • On average : 170 international commercial actions and 2,000 participating firms per year • International trade fairs, economic missions, sector-based contact days abroad, invitations of foreign prospects and buyers in Belgium • Aim : to offer Walloon companies of all sizes and from all sectors a wide range of international actions

  13. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • Promotion of niche markets with a high technological content (30% of the programme): • Life sciences • Pharmaceutical products • Food additives • Environmental technologies • New materials • Electronics • Information and communication technologies • Security and control equipment • Aeronautical and aerospace equipment

  14. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • Various financial incentive mechanisms designed to help companies at all stages of the export process (3,968 granted in 2009) • Development of export strategies • Training and recruitment of personnel • Marketing and communication • Market exploration (trade fairs, missions, buyers invitations, market studies, etc.) • Training of clients • Establishment of commercial offices abroad • Development of international partnerships • Risk coverage, financing and insurance of exports

  15. KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS • SOFINEX : Walloon society for financing exportsand the internationalisation of businesses(93 beneficiaries in 2009) • Trust Funds with international organisations for technical assistance and feasibility studies regarding private-sector projects in developing and emerging countries • Financial tools for export promotion : bilateral credit lines, funds for economic development projects in emerging countries • Direct participation in financing requirements of international ventures (exports or investments) : banking counter-guarantees, granting of credits, equity participations

  16. 3. KNOWLEDGE IN NETWORKINGAND EU INSTITUTIONS The Walloon House to the European Institutions (MEWE) : a network deployment unit for companies established in Wallonia Functions of MEWE : • To provide information on Community calls for tenders in the field of economic aid and research • 7th Framework for R&D • Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) • European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) • European Neighbouring and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) • Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) • To promote international partnership and networking for Walloon-based companies and operators

  17. KNOWLEDGE IN NETWORKINGAND EU INSTITUTIONS MEWE IS A MEMBER OF SEVERAL EUROPEAN NETWORKS • EURADA (European Association of Development Agencies) • EBN (European Bic’s Network) • ERRIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network) • ENRICH (European Network of Regions Improving Citizens Health) • ANIMA (Investments in MED Network) • RIBN (Research Innovation and Business Network for Central andSouth-Eastern Europe ) • EREF (European Economic Regional Forum) • INSME (International Network for SMEs) • EEN (Enterprise Europe Network)

  18. KNOWLEDGE IN NETWORKINGAND EU INSTITUTIONS NCP-Wallonia : contact point of the Walloon Business Federation helping companies based in Wallonia to participate in European-funded research projects (principally FP7) Functions of NCP-Wallonia : • Search for potential foreign partners in research projects • Assistance in the preparation of research projects (setting up of consortia, proposal writing, contract negotiation) • Help in supervising the good progress of projects

  19. KNOWLEDGE IN NETWORKINGAND EU INSTITUTIONS • TECHNOLOGICAL NETWORKING AT WORK :THE WALLONIA-TEXAS A&M CONNECTION • Creates global companies through the simultaneous commercialisation of new technologies in Europe and the United States • Facilitates the penetration of Walloon start-ups in the US market • Provides returns assistance to American start-ups willing to enter the European market via the Walloon Region • Links companies in Wallonia and the United States for the creation of technological and/or commercial partnerships • Prospects multinationals in the field of R&D to present our respective research capabilities

  20. KNOWLEDGE IN NETWORKINGAND EU INSTITUTIONS • Wallonia-Texas A&M Connection :a Global Network of Innovation Middle East EU US India South Africa China Co-Identify Co-Protect Co-Invest Co-Locate Co-Market

  21. 4. KNOWLEDGE IN LOGISTICS • The first logistic region in Europe according to the latest Cushman and Wakefield study on prime locations for European distribution and logistics • At the centre of the so-called European logistics banana • 300 million consumers within a radius of 1.000km • The highest concentration of motorway interchanges in the world • 2 international and cargo airports (Charleroi and Liège) and second biggest European river port (Liège) • Six multi-modal platforms located at the intersection of the principal European connections (motorways, railways, airways and inland waterways) • Availability of quality real estate at moderate prices • Top-ranked logistics services providers for supply chain optimisation solutions

  22. KNOWLEDGE IN LOGISTICS FDI success stories in logistical activities Employment created TNT (European hub)1,200 Johnson & Johnson (medical goods) 350 Katoen Natie (supply chain services) 100 Swissport Cargo service centre 76 Coopervision (ocular material) 200 Waldico (food and domestic goods) 1,100 DeliXL (food distribution) 75 Lanutti (general distribution) 200 H&M (textile distribution) 450 Baxter (pharmaceuticals) 1,200

  23. 5. KNOWLEDGE IN INTERCULTURALITYAND INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIEGE INTERNATIONAL CITY • Managed by AWEX, Wallonia Brussels International (WBI) and the Walloon Office for Employment and Professional Training (FOREM) • Common development of projects and events stimulating the knowledge of foreign languages and cultures as a key factor in the internationalisation process • Seminars on commercial and cultural approaches to specific markets with a specific focus on the BRIC

  24. KNOWLEDGE IN INTERCULTURALITY AND INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE EXPLORT = PROGRAMME FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG GRADUATES JOB-SEEKERS • Provides youth with intensive training in international trade • Offers a first professional experience abroad through market exploration assignments performed for exporting companies • Focuses on the development of intercultural dimensions and language skills • Since 2006 : more than 1.000 EXPLORT trainees have helped Walloon companies to develop internationally (professional insertion rate of 85%)

  25. KNOWLEDGE IN INTERCULTURALITY AND INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE INFORMATION CENTRE ON ISLAMIC FINANCE AND HALAL CERTIFICATION • Raises the awareness of Walloon-based companies on Shariah-compliant commercial opportunities in Islamic markets • Assists Walloon exporters in certifying products and services to Halal norms that are destined to Islamic markets (principally agro-food products) • Facilitates access to Islamic finance among Walloon businesses • Sets up partnerships with official organisations of the Islamic world (e.g. = Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2009 between AWEX and the Islamic Development Bank based in Jeddah)

  26. CONCLUSION 3 T’s FOR THE CREATIVE AGE • TECHNOLOGY • TALENT • TOLERANCE

  27. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION www.awex.be www.wallonia-international.be www.investinwallonia.be WALLONIA : YOUR PARTNER REGION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

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