After a stopover in Turin, Casa Valonia, the Walloon trade house, returns to Spain to continue its exploration of cultural and creative industries, which began in Madrid in 2023.
On Wednesday, a delegation of around 100 Belgians from Wallonia arrived in Málaga for the next stage of their journey. Over three days, they will delve into medical technologies, smart cities, and digital culture and sports.
Málaga, nestled by the sea, is a rapidly growing digital hub. Home to the national centre for digital content, Málaga TechPark, the IBIMA biomedical research institute, and Animum, Spain’s top animation school in 2022 according to The Rookies rankings, the city reveals an impressive blend of tradition and innovation.
After previous editions in Madrid in 2019, 2021, and 2023, Málaga, Picasso’s birthplace, was a natural choice for this year’s Casa Valonia.
The travelling showcase of Walloon expertise alternates between Spain and Italy annually — the name gaining or losing an “L” accordingly. Last year, it was hosted in Turin, and in Milan in 2022. This year, 24 companies, nine higher education institutions, and eight operators from southern Belgium aim to attract opportunities in Spain.
The stakes are high. Europe’s cultural and creative economy employs 7.6 million people—equal to the hospitality sector and five times more than the chemical industry, according to the Wallonia Export and Foreign Investment Agency (Awex).
To attract Spain, Wallonia’s sixth-largest economic partner, Awex and Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) have organised a programme packed with visits, networking opportunities, pitching sessions, and meetings between university representatives.
