In the past years, the export of goods from Brussels has risen significantly. No less than €6 billion worth of goods from the Belgian capital were sold abroad in the first half of 2023 alone.
Between 2019 and 2022, exports of goods from Brussels increased by more than one-fourth (25.9%). While a decline of 5.5.% was recorded in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was followed by a 10% growth in 2021 and a significant jump in 2022 (+20.8%), State Secretary for Foreign Trade Ans Persoons announced on Monday.
The €6 billion in exported goods in the first half of 2023 marked a 37% increase compared to the same semester in 2022.
"The Brussels region's prosperity depends heavily on its international profile," she noted. "We need a strong export market and foreign investment in the Brussels brand."
The growth was largely driven by two categories, namely cars and medicines, accounting for 70% of Brussels' exports. The region's main customer is Germany. Brussels exports also grew particularly strongly to Turkey (+229%), Finland (+145%) and Canada (+47%), following growth in car sales.
Hubs supporting Brussels business
Exports were further strengthened with the help of the Brussels Enterprise Agency hub.brussels, which has 33 offices abroad, where staff support Brussels businesses exporting their goods, services and expertise outside Belgium. These offices also welcome foreign investors looking to gain a foothold in the Belgian capital.
Five new posts were opened in Rabat, Sao Paulo (relocation from Rio), Copenhagen, Ramallah and finally Geneva. "An important role falls to the representatives abroad who will see their remit expanded in the coming years," Persoons noted. "They will become real Brussels ambassadors at diplomatic (bi- and multilateral), economic, and tourism levels." In 2025, two new openings are planned in Vienna and Dubai (replacing the base in Kuwait).
Inside the Brussels Boutique. Credit: hub.brussels
The agency also opened two new "Brussels Houses" in Milan and Barcelona, and a temporary pop-up store in London, where Brussels' products and expertise are exhibited. Finally, a wide range of trade missions including smaller Brussels companies took place in various countries including the United States, Australia, Morocco and Japan.
Persoons also announced that a five-year international strategic plan for 2024-2029 had been approved by the government to make it possible to increase the impact of hub.brussels' actions and" the weight of the Brussels region abroad". For this period, the goal is to position the capital as a pioneer in social and sustainable entrepreneurship.
