On 14 January HE Ambassador Cao Zhongming had a meeting with the China-Platform. The Province of East-Flanders, Mr Didier Detollenaere, Acting Governor; City of Ghent, Mr Matthias De Clerq, Mayor; Ghent University, Prof. Rik Van de Walle, Dean; North Sea Port, Mr Daan Schalck, CEO; and the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, represented by Ms Gwenn Sonck, introduced their activities on China to the Chinese Ambassador.

Flanders Investment & Trade is announcing the nomination of the Chinese company CPMC for the FIT 2019 Foreign Investment Trophy of the Year. This is the first time a greenfield Chinese investment of this scale in the production industry takes place in Flanders, and as such it is a well-deserved nomination. This substantial investment shows the importance and added value of Chinese investments in Europe. You can cast your vote on the website https://www.foreigninvestmenttrophy.be/

Mr Christian Reinaudo, CEO Agfa, Ms Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director FCCC, Belgian Ambassador Marc Vinck, Mr Herman Raets, Head of ASPACH Region North, Agfa Healthcare

A half-day seminar was held on 10 January 2019 at the Belgian Embassy in Beijing on “The Development of Medical Imaging Technology in the Past 40 Years: How Foreign Investment in Healthcare Can Support Healthy China 2030”.

This seminar brought together stakeholders from a wide range of industries to provide an informative and sharing session to discuss the important role of how foreign investment in Chinese medical imaging healthcare and technology can support and develop the ‘Healthy China 2030’ plans.

HE Marc Vinck, Ambassador of Belgium to China; Christian Reinaudo, AGFA Global CEO; Herman Raets, Head of ASPACH Region North, Agfa Healthcare; Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director of the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce; Chinese government and hospital representatives and experts in the field of medical device standards, as well as representatives of global healthcare sector organizations attended the seminar. Philippe Snel of Dawo Law Firm moderated the seminar.

Mr Christian Reinaudo gave a presentation on how China became a regional and global center for international medical services, followed by Herman Raets, who talked about “One company’s story: Working to improve Chinese healthcare over 30 years”.

An informal discussion and traditional Belgian-style food buffet concluded the seminar.

The International Research Project travels to China, with the aim to contribute to your organization through research.

The International Research Project (IRP) is a non-profit consulting organization, operated by a multidisciplinary team of master students.

Yearly, the IRP goes abroad to explore the opportunities for international organizations in a foreign market. Supported by professors from both universities of Amsterdam, the IRP has successfully conducted 162 research projects in 26 countries since 1990.

Next year’s destination is China. Currently, we are looking for business partners. Partners for whom we can perform tailormade, desk- and field research. Findings will provide our affiliates with a research integrated advice of high quality.

Are you interested in our project? Or do you know of an organization that might be? Please get in touch!

Wednesday December 5th, two IRP members will attend the China-Seminar hosted in Antwerp by the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, VOKA and Flanders Investment and Trade. We hope to see you there!

Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) would like to know whether Members of the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) expect to be hit by Brexit and whether FIT could help by organizing a briefing on:

• The impact of Brexit
• FIT services in the framework of Brexit
• Available subsidies

Send your answers to michele.surinx@fitagency.be