2018 a record year for foreign investments in Flanders

“These figures show that Flanders is more attractive than ever for foreign investors.” Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois reacts to the record foreign investments in Flanders. Last year, foreign companies invested 4.24 billion euros in 234 projects. That is the highest level ever, and more than twice as much as in 2017. What’s more, the investments are good for 5,339 new jobs. According to Minister-President Bourgeois, our strong reputation in research and development is a major asset. “Today, Flanders is one of the innovation leaders in Europe.”

Triple helix

Flanders has a great many assets that win investors over, says Geert Bourgeois. “We have our central location, we have productive people and our industry has made the switch to automation.” But research and development are just as important. Flanders is consciously focusing on the so-called “triple helix”, the fluid interaction among researchers, investors and government. “Large companies like to come here because of the quality of our research institutes, with which they can easily cooperate,” says Minister-President Bourgeois.