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Belçika Veliaht Prensi Crown Prince of Belgium Very often, Brussels is portrayed chiefly as a political capital, the capital of Belgium, the headquarters of NATO and of the European Union. Brussels is indeed a key decision making centre, not only politically but also economically. The thousands of international companies, journalists and lobbyists who have established offices in our capital are proof of that. But Brussels is much more. It is a vibrant city, where people from all cultures meet, from Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern Europe, where we have a large immigrant community, many of them of Turkish origin, where we respect people from other countries and other backgrounds and where, indeed, it is good to do business. The first reason why it is good to do business in Brussels, and indeed in Belgium as a whole, is: location. For centuries, Brussels, just like Istanbul, has been at the crossroads of European trade routes. Today, it is situated on Europe’s main commercial axes: if you want to move goods or people over land from the UK and Scandinavia to Berlin, Warsaw, Marseille and Prague, you need to pass through Belgium and, most likely, through Brussels. Indeed many commercial and services companies have established headquarters or key business operations in Brussels. And I am not just thinking of logistics or financial services or lobbyists, but also of industrial companies, like the Volkswagen assembly plant for instance. A second reason why Brussels is attractive is: the people. They are highly educated, skilled, motivated, speak several languages, are flexible, care for the customer, and their productivity is among the highest in the world. You will find they are a very efficient workforce. Brussels is also a very sought after venue for international conferences and congresses. It ranks among the top European congress organisers. We take care to make congress goers feel welcome, to offer them, for the few days they are in Brussels, the same hospitality and efficiency we provide to the permanent residents. In this respect, Brussels is also very much like Istanbul, and I take this occasion to wish you every success with the organization both of the Eurovision Song contest and with the NATO Summit. And then the last and, I think, most important reason: Brussels is fun! It is a good place to live, to shop, to meet with friends, to mix with people from other cultures, to enjoy life. It is also only a short train journey away from Paris, London or Cologne. And with its large international community, Brussels is indeed a cosmopolitan city but where people feel at home. I love Brussels. I love my country. If you are considering expanding your business and you look for an interesting, efficient location: think of Brussels, think of Belgium. We’ll welcome you with open arms, we’ll make you feel at home. International Cooperation Is All The More Necessary In An Industry If there is one area of striking similarities between the Turkish and the Belgian economy, I am sure it is in the sector of manufacturing of cars and vehicles. Here in Turkey, like in Belgium, the automotive industry has since the 1950s been an essential sector for the development of our economy and the prosperity of our citizens. Turkey, like Belgium, does not produce its own brand of vehicles but is a major vehicle producer and exporter. Assembly of passenger cars, buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, is a crucial activity in both our countries, and this for several reasons. First of all, because it is a highly productive and innovative sector of our economy. Second, because vehicle assembly generates tens of thousands of jobs: in the assembly plants themselves; of course, but also in hundreds of small or medium-sized companies who supply parts and equipment or who provide services to the industry. In Belgium, for every job in an assembly plant there are three jobs in the supplier industry. And third, because the automotive industry, both in Turkey and in Belgium, is fully geared towards exports. International cooperation is all the more necessary in an industry which in recent years has gone through difficult times and faces crucial challenges in terms of restructuring, jobs and innovation. But our companies from Belgium are highly interested to learn more about the vibrant automotive sector in Turkey, with excellent growth prospects both in terms of domestic demand and exports. There is one area in particular where, I think, cooperation can be intensified, and that is technology. For the automotive industry, which faces worldwide competition, research, product innovation, process engineering, integration of new technologies are of vital importance if we want to keep a competitive edge. Support from the authorities and cooperation with universities, polytechnics and research institutes are also essential in this regard. Belgium-Turkey, Strengthening The Link You as business leaders know how important it is to have a clear mission statement for your company. And we all know that public relations experts will charge a big fee for a good mission statement. Our mission statement is powerful and clear: Belgium-Turkey, strengthening the link. That is the reason for our presence here in Istanbul and in Ankara. Princess Mathilde and I are truly delighted that so many important business leaders from Turkey and Belgium are here with us to help in building closer relations between our two countries. We are very grateful also for the support of the Turkish-Belgian Business Council and of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey. Thank you for your valuable assistance to our economic mission. Our mission can also count on important official support from Belgium with the presence of the Federal Minister of Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade and Science Policy, Mrs MOERMAN and of Mrs CEYSENS, Flemish Minister of Economy, Foreign Policy and e-Government. Also among us is the Chairman of the Federation of Enterprises of Belgium, Mr VANSTEENKISTE, as well as officials representing federal institutions and our three Regions. This shows the importance we in Belgium attach to ‘strengthening our link’ with Turkey. The backbone of our economic mission is formed by 130 business leaders from all three Regions of Belgium: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. They represent companies active in all sectors of our economy: energy and engineering, the automotive industry, industrial applications, logistics, equipment, textiles, media and imaging, consulting, the chemical sector, information technology and software, food and consumer services, and of course the all-important financial sector. Last but not least, we are delighted that representatives of the interior decoration and fashion world have chosen to join us on this mission. This substantial presence of economic decision makers illustrates how confident we are in the opportunities of the Turkish economy, and how eager to establish firmer and closer business ties. Turkey’s economic performance in 2003 is described by the International Monetary Fund as ‘the best in a generation’. Turkey is a dynamic country, where enterprise and hard work go hand in hand with a stable environment, a unique geographical location and ever stronger links with Europe. Turkey, like Belgium, has based the development of its economy on export-oriented industrial activity. Growth prospects for the Turkish economy inspire confidence and offer the possibility of increased cooperation in many areas. We note that the Turkish economy is strong in sectors where Belgian companies have, over the last decades, acquired considerable expertise. I am thinking in particular of textiles and clothing, the automotive sector, machinery, energy, engineering, the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors and telecommunications. All these areas of activities are represented in our mission, and I would encourage our Turkish guests to profit from their presence and establish useful business contacts. Our business community is also interested in hearing about the progress made in reform of the Turkish financial sector and in privatisation of essential industries and utilities. Belgian companies and financial groups are keen to explore new opportunities for investment in strategic sectors of the Turkish economy. In the energy sector in particular, Tractebel is working closely with the Turkish authorities in projects to build and operate power plants. Many participants in our delegation are also looking for possibilities to cooperate in high-technology sectors such as process engineering, information technology and electronics. And of course, we are convinced that substantial opportunities exist for intensive cooperation in the services sector. In recent years my country has complemented its strong industrial tradition with rapid development of the services sector. This sector now employs 63% of Belgium’s active population, so it is only natural that our companies seek to intensify their ties with suitable partners abroad. I am certain that, together with the substantial rise of our trade flows, these new forms of partnership will form the bedrock for ever closer cooperation between Turkish and Belgian companies. Our delegation is fully aware of the significance of visiting Turkey at this moment in time. The Izmir Economic Congress that will, I am sure, define essential orientations for Turkey’s economic future, not in the least with regard to your plans to transform Turkey into a knowledge and information-based economy. You will find in our delegation many entrepreneurs ready to work together with you in building an economy based on productive technology, mobility, knowledge and innovation. We are convinced that these are the keys to success and to substantial and sustainable economic growth. Increased cooperation in economic and commercial ties needs, of course, to go hand in hand with ever closer bilateral relations. That is another key priority for Princess Mathilde and myself and indeed for our entire delegation. We attach foremost importance to our meetings with the President and the Government, and to our official contacts in Ankara and here in Istanbul. We are also eager to get to know your country better and to discover both its unique cultural heritage and its current profile as a bridge and a gateway between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Belgium and Turkey have established close and confident bilateral ties that go back many years. In recent history, the exchanges between people have intensified so much that we can really speak of bonds of friendship being created between Turks and Belgians. The friendly football match in Brussels between our national teams was an excellent occasion to celebrate those bonds. Given the result, I hope our Turkish friends won’t mind if I don’t elaborate on this! The Turkish community in Belgium is active in many areas, from the services sector and business to politics and even our cultural life. The 150.000 people of Turkish origin living in Belgium constitute one of the largest foreign communities in our country. Conversely, over 300.000 Belgian tourists come to your country not only to enjoy the Mediterranean weather or your beautiful beaches, but increasingly also to admire your fabulous cultural heritage. We will ourselves, have the opportunity to visit the archaeological site at Sagalassos where Belgian and Turkish teams have worked for decades now, under the inspiring leadership of Professor WAELKENS, to bring to light impressive vestiges from Roman times. All these economic, commercial, bilateral and cultural ties make our mission to your country so important and so necessary. |