Record year for foreign investments in Flanders

In 2021, there were 295 new foreign investment projects in Flanders. “A record,” says Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon. “The investments represent an amount of EUR 2.86 billion and 6,000 additional jobs.” Flanders thus remains a highly attractive region for foreign investments. The share in research and development is also increasing, which, says Jan Jambon, is a good development. It is not without reason that the EU refers to Flanders as an “innovation leader”.

The bulk of the investments come from the United States and the United Kingdom. “After 2020 and the coronavirus restrictions, the US again played a significant role last year. But there is also a marked increase in investment from the UK. Many British companies want to get a foothold on the continent to circumvent the Brexit administrative restrictions,” says Jan Jambon, referring to the agreements Flanders made at the time with the UK after Brexit. “Thanks to those agreements, we avoided a disaster scenario.”

Good prospects for the labour market

In an overheated labour market, it will not be easy to fill those 6,000 additional jobs, but Jan Jambon has confidence in the initiatives that the Flemish Government has taken. “Companies such as Atlas Copco are investing in Flanders because our labour market still offers good prospects.”

Flanders is an “innovation leader”

Foreign investment is mainly in the sales, marketing and logistics sectors, but there has been a notable increase in investment in research and development. “A good development,” Jan Jambon says. “Flanders has been above three per cent of GDP The gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country, both by companies and the government. This term is usually used as a benchmark for a country’s prosperity. This is why the N-VA closely follows the evolution of the Belgian GDP. GDP for a while now in terms of investment in research and development. It is not without reason that the EU refers to Flanders as an ‘innovation leader’.”