Agoria, the Belgian federation of technology and innovative companies, has praised the new defence plan approved by the Flemish government on Friday evening.
The plan aims to establish a genuine defence industry in Flanders, according to Agoria.
“It is a powerful signal that the Flemish government recognises the importance of a well-developed defence industry and shows growing awareness of this sector’s strategic significance for our economy and security,” said Jolyce Demely, General Director of Agoria Flanders.
Agoria is particularly pleased with the abolition of the Muyters directive, which stipulated that government support for research and development in defence companies was only permitted if the technologies had both military and civilian applications.
“The directive was no longer aligned with current geopolitical realities and hindered companies and research institutions from fully participating in innovative defence projects,” said Demely. “We extend our hand to Flemish knowledge institutions to collaborate with the industry on defence sector research projects.”
Agoria also emphasises the importance of Flanders not enforcing stricter arms trade regulations than other European countries. “In times of hybrid warfare, which we face today, speed and agility are crucial.”
The Flemish business organisation Voka also aims to help build a robust defence sector. In a press release, Voka mentioned plans to identify companies from various sectors in the coming months that wish to develop activities supporting Belgium’s military capacity directly or indirectly.
“Companies from numerous sectors have expressed their interest in contributing to our country’s defence efforts,” said Hans Maertens, CEO of Voka. “This includes firms from the technological industry, as well as the food, textile, and construction industries. Europe will increasingly need to stand on its own geopolitically, and private enterprises play a vital role in this geopolitical resurgence.”
