The Flanders region in Belgium was a ‘hidden treasure’ offering lots of opportunities for businesses from South India, including the advantage of accessing 70% of the European market in a single day, a top trade promotion official of Flanders said.
Jayant Nadiger, Trade and Investment Commissioner of Flanders region, told The Hindu that the region offered significant potential for Indian companies, especially in aerospace, electronics, and creative industries.
“The Flanders region has a 62 km coastline with four major ports — Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge, and Osstend. It is the gateway to Europe,” he said.
Mr. Nadiger said the Flanders trade promotion office based in Bengaluru could help investors set up business in Flanders “We will handhold them to ensure that everything takes off smoothly by being a single point of contact and steer them through their business in the EU,” he said.
150 Indian firms
“The Bengaluru office is responsible for south India [investment promotion], to promote Flemish products, services, technology into India and also attract investments from south India to Flanders region,” Mr. Nadiger said. There are currently about 150 Indian companies in the Flanders region, he added.
“Being in Flanders gives access to 70% of the EU’s GDP in a single day. The reach is maximum,” he said. Mr. Nadiger said there was potential for Indian companies in green energy, bio-waste, wind power and solar power.
