We are pleased to announce the organisation of the first edition of the

which will take place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

All details on : www.riyadhinterexpo.com

For more information, please contact the Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it – tel +32.2.344.82.04)

SEMINAR WITH H.E. MR FAISAL TRAD, AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA (30th NOVEMBER)

On the occasion of the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Arab Belgium Luxemburg Chamber of Conference on 30th November, the ABLCC organized a seminar with HE Mr Faisal Trad, the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Brussels and to the European Union.

This seminar was attend by Arab Ambassadors, representatives of the European Union, the Belgian authorities and more than 100 members of the Chamber.

The Ambassador presented the trump cards of the Saudi economy, one of the twenty five most powerful economies in the world and considered to be the most powerful economy in the Middle East and North Africa.

He urged Belgian companies to direct their activities towards the Saudi market, which offers attractive basic conditions, occupies the 11th place among the countries that attract economic activities and ranks 7th in terms of ease of paying taxes. On the other hand, thanks to the long-term strategy adopted by the State, GDP per capita is expected to double from 43.300 Saudi riyals in 2004 to 98.500 SR in 2024, an increase by 4.2% per year, while the economic growth rate is to reach 6.6% annually during the first quarter of the strategy, rising to 8.7% in the fourth quarter. (A complete file on Saudi economy is available at the ABLCC)

 SYMPOSIUM ON MOROCCO (15 NOVEMBER 2011)

The Chamber organized on 15th November, in cooperation with the CBL-ACP, a Symposium on the Kingdom of Morocco, during which HE Mr Samir Addahre, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in Brussels, gave a presentation on the political and economical situation in Morocco, the importance of the economic and social relations between Morocco and Belgium, and the economic, political, academic and social contribution of the Moroccan community in Belgium, numbering some 400,000 people.

He also highlighted the business and investment climate in Morocco and the contribution of Belgian companies in economic and infrastructure projects, and the development of water and wastewater treatment systems.

The Ambassador referred also to the political transformation in Morocco, the upcoming legislative elections and the priority given by the Moroccan authorities to the development of national human resources. 

SEMINAR "DOING BUSINESS WITH THE ARAB COUNTRIES IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARAB WORLD" IN LUXEMBURG (14 NOVEMBER)

The ABLCC organized on 14th November, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Luxemburg, a seminar "Doing Business with the Arab countries in the light of the recent development of the Arab world". The seminar attracted some 90 businessmen and identified areas of cooperation and investment opportunities in the Arab countries, as well as to highlight the experience of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg as an important international financial centre.

The Chamber, in cooperation with the official bodies in Luxemburg, intends to organize this meeting on a regular basis.

The event included several presentations about the Gulf area, North Africa and the Middle East, in addition to presentations on the importance of Luxemburg as an international financial place, a transport and services hub and the Islamic banking sector.

Reference was made to the positive development in relations between Qatar and Luxemburg, especially following the acquisition by Qatar Investment Authority of a 35% share in Cargolux, worth $ 117 million and the purchase of KBL Luxemburg.

 ECONOMIC MISSION TO THE STATE OF KUWAIT (10-12 OCTOBER)

The ABLCC organized an economic mission to the State of Kuwait from 10 to 12 October 2011, heading a delegation of 15 representatives from various sectors of the Belgian economy, especially the health sector, the engineering, construction and metal industries, the transport sector, management, training and the banking sector. This mission benefitted from the strong support of the Embassy of Kuwait in Brussels and the Embassy of Belgium in Kuwait.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait organized a comprehensive program for the mission. The members of the delegation thus met H.E. the Minister of Health, Dr Hilal Al-Sayer and H.E. the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Amani Bouresli. During the meetings, participants discussed about enhancing economic and investment cooperation between the institutions of the private sector in both countries and examined a number of subjects to overcome the barriers and obstacles to an increase of the volume of trade and investment between both sides, particularly the activation of an investment protection agreement and avoidance of double taxation.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait also organized a meeting for the members of the delegation with Kuwaiti businessmen, headed by Mrs Wafa Al Qatami, a member of the Board of the Kuwaiti Chamber, during which they stressed the need to further enhance the efforts aimed at increased changes.

These meetings allowed to the members of the delegation to identify the opportunities to contribute to the projects of the five-year plan adopted by the Kuwaiti government and representing an investment of at least 35 billion Kuwaiti dinars (105 billion dollars).  A number of delegates expressed special interest in participating in development projects to be implemented in cooperation between the public and private sectors.  It should be noted that a number of Belgian institutions participating in the mission also signed cooperation agreements with Kuwaiti institutions, particularly in the field of health care.

The Chamber invited H.E. the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait to visit Belguim with a delegation of Kuwaiti businessmen.

The mission proved to be most successful and the participating businessmen expressed their deep gratification for the useful meetings made during the visit.

DOING BUSINESS WITH ARAB COUNTRIES IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT EVENTS IN THE ARAB WORLD – SEMINAR OF 27TH SEPTEMBER 2011 IN ANTWERP

The Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce organized in cooperation with SGS Belgium on 27th September 2011 a seminar on “Doing business with the Arab countries in the light of the recent events in the Arab world” at the SGS House . This seminar gathered 70 participants.

H.E. Mr Al-Humaimidi, Ambassador of Iraq, represented by Mrs Jwan Khioka, outlined the “Business and Investment opportunities in Iraq”. Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world with a large potential for investments and business in various economic sectors (CD on request)

Prof Amine Ait Chaalal, Director of the Study Center for International Crises and Conflicts at the Catholic University of Louvain, made a presentation on the Arab revolutions and the impact on relations with the EU “Les révolutions arabes : le retour des peuples dans l’Histoire” Mrs Mireille Janssens and Mr Daan Rowies from ONDD (Office National du Ducroire) analyzed the countries risk with illustrations from the Arab world and the solutions of ONDD for international risks. (Download PowerPoint Presentation)

Mrs Katrien Leinders, Economic and Commercial Attaché in Egypt delivered a presentation on “A new Egypt” with the impact of the transition for the Business Community and on the various services she provides to develop relations with Egypt. (Download PDF Presentation)

Mr Jozef Somers, Business Unit Manager at SGS Belgium, spoke about the certificates of conformity and how they made easier the customs clearance in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait, Spain, Iraq and Qatar.

Then, Mr Ghassan Ejjeh, Vice Chairman of BESIX, member of the executive bureau of the ABLCC, made a conclusion analysis on the situation in the Arab world which represents 350 million consumers and on the demand for new products and services ever growing as the region is an important destination for foreign investments.

MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL INVESTMENT AUTHORITY - JUNE 23rd

On the occasion of the visit to Belgium of H.E. Mr. Rowsch Shaways, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, accompanied by an important business delegation, the ABLCC organized a round table with H.E. Dr. Sami Al Araji, Chairman of the Iraqi National Investment Authority. Several members of the Chamber, having activities in Iraq, participated in the meeting.

Dr. Al Araji presented the investment potential of Iraq and the opportunities for Belgian companies offered by the Iraqi market in several sectors. Perspectives for cooperation are genuine and comprehensive, especially in oil and gas, construction and housing, water and sewerage, transport, communication, health care, electricity and cement production. Belgian companies furthermore have an extensive experience of the Iraqi market, and numerous important projects have been implemented in the past by Belgian entrepreneurs.  

The favourable economic prospects of the country are to a large extend based upon the huge oil reserves : proven oil reserves stand at approximately 140 billion barrels, representing the world’s 2nd largest reserves.

During his contacts with high ranking Belgian politicians, Deputy Prime Minister Shaways launched an invitation for a delegation of officials and businessmen to visit Iraq. The contacts were completed at a reception organized on this occasion by H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Humaimidi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Brussels.

VISIT OF A SUDANESE BUSINESS DELEGATION - JUNE 18th

The Chamber welcomed, in cooperation with the Sudanese embassy in Brussels, a Sudanese business delegation specialized in poultry production. A meeting was organized at the premises of the Belgian poultry specialist Incubel Belgabroed, member of our Chamber.

Incubel Belgabroed is the leading company in Belgium, specialized in the production of hatching eggs and one-day old chicks. The company is a major exporter and has a longstanding experience in the Arab world.

The contacts during the meeting at Incubel gave the Sudanese businessmen insight into the up-to-date techniques used in the production facilities of the company, the packaging methods and the transport of the output.

Sudan has a vast agricultural potential and cooperation with Sudanese companies in this field proves to be most attractive.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ABLCC - JUNE 8th

The ABLCC organized the meetings of its Board of Directors and General Assembly on June 8th, with the participation of the representatives of the League of Arab States and the Arab embassies in Brussels.

The Secretary General submitted the report on the activities of the Chamber in 2010 and the programme of the upcoming events and initiatives in 2011. The latter report highlights the opportunities linked to the organization of an economic mission to Kuwait in October this year.

During the meeting, approval was given to enlist the representatives of the Ducroire and the company Denys as members of the Board of Directors. Me William Pissoort was also elected as a member of the Financial Committee of the ABLCC.

The General Assembly was followed by a lunch-conference with the participation of the Arab Ambassadors and guest speaker Jean-Luc Proutat, Responsible for OECD economies at BNP Paribas head office in Paris. Mr. Proutat spoke on the world-wide economic situation with a particular focus on the Arab countries.

THE 6TH ARAB BELGIUM LUXEMBURG ECONOMIC FORUM - 30th November 2010

The 6th edition of the Economic Forum of the ABLCC was held in Brussels on November 30,2010 and concluded successfully its discussions on the ways of strengthening the economic and financial relations between Belgium, Luxemburg and the Arab countries.

In the opening session, H.E. Mr Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, highlighted the historical relations between the Arab world and Europe, defining these relations as "the engine of growth" for the economies of both parties.

The first session of the Forum focused on the economies of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, the guests of honour of the meeting. Speakers stressed the economic and investment climate in these countries, underlining the legislative framework and the measures offering increased opportunities for cooperation.

The second session of the meeting highlighted the Belgian and Luxemburg skills and technology in the field of renewable energy, logistics, transport and infrastructure development, while the representative of the European Investment Bank presented the projects funded by the EIB in the Arab countries.

Close to 200 specialists participated in the Forum, along with a significant number of representatives of companies working in various sectors and official institutions dealing with the economic cooperation with the Arab world.  The Forum thus provided a unique platform to discuss the commercial and financial relations and the role played by the Chamber in reinforcing the cooperation.

SEMINAR ON "water Reuse and Desalination : Experience and Opportunity", 28-29 September 2010, Cham Palace, Damascus, Syria

The Network of Syrian Scientists, Technologists and Innovators Abroad (NOSSTIA) is organizing, under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of Syria, HEM Naji Otri, and in partnership with the International Desalination Association and the Levant Desalination Association, a seminar on 28-29 September 2010, at the Cham Palace, Damascus, Syria.

The seminar will focus on "Water Reuse and Desalination: Experience and Opportunity"

Mr Ghassan EJJEH, Director of BESIX in Belgium and Member of the Board of Directors at the CCBLA, will be a guest speaker at this event.

For more information, please contact : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Seminar "Doing Business with the Arab Countries" - September 22,2010

CCBLA organised on 22 September 2010 a seminar "Doing Business with the Arab Countries" in the premises of SGS House in Antwerp.  This event was organized in cooperation with the Belgian Federation for technology industry Agoria and the inspection testing and verification company SGS and in presence of about 100 participants.

Important themes were presented and debated such as the business climate and opportunities in Algeria the Banking system in the Gulf Region, the causes of commercial disputes in contracts between European and Middle East enterprises, the pre-shipment inspections induced by bank or client in the Arab countries, the certificates of conformity required by the authorities in Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and market penetration in Gulf countries and subsidiary location.

Meeting between the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture of Arab countries and the European Investment Bank , July 7,2010

In the frame of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2009 between the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Arab countries and the European Investment Bank, a meeting took place on July 7,2010, in the premises of the EIB in Luxemburg, between the Secretary General of GUCCIAAC, Dr Imad Shehab, the Director of the European Neighbor and Partner Countries department of the EIB, Mr Claudio Cortese, Head of Unit of the Institutional and Policy Unit at the EIB Mr Ioannis Kaltsas, and with the participation of the Secretary General of the CCBLA Mr Qaisar Hijazin, in order to discuss the further cooperation and to set up a working plan.

The two parties agreed on the necessity of implementing the MoU and underlined several bases for cooperation, among which:

-  the support of the EIB in the preparation of policy papers focusing on the economic developments in Arab countries, and the preparation of annual surveys about the progress achieved by the private sector in general in Arab countries and by the SME's in particuliar.

-  Keeping the EIB informed about the financial and technical needs for the big and medium projects in Arab countries, about the opportunities of investment and the infrastructural projects, in order to obtain European and international funds for these projects.

-  The two parties also discussed the organization of training and capacity building programs and business roundtables about economic and financial affairs and where European and Arab experts can exchange best practices and strategies.

-  The parties also agreed on organizing an annual economic forum "Euro-Med Chambers Congress" between the EIB, the European Commission, the Chambers of Commerce of the Mediterranean and Arab countries, in order to enhance the cooperation in trade, commerce, investments and finance. 

Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants inaugurates 24 oil storage tanks in Antwerp (June 24,2010)

 On June 24, the Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants (KPIL), which operates commercially under the Brand name Q8Oils, inaugurated 24 new oil storage tanks on the site of its Antwerp lubricant blending plant, in the presence of the Ambassador of Kuwait to Belgium, H.E. Mrs Nabeela Al-Mulla, the President of KPIL in Belgium, Mr Hussein Ismail, Antwerp's Deputy Mayor Mr Robert Voorhamme, the Managing Director of KPIL in Belgium, Mr Giuliano Franzi, the CCBLA represented by the Secretary General, Mr Qaisar Hijazin, Belgian officials, energy managers and workers at the plant.

The Deputy Mayor of Antwerp underlined the importance of this kind of investments as showing "the confidence in relations between Kuwait and Belgium" and the strategic assets of Antwerp which is one of the Europe's largest sea ports and is also home to the second largest petrochemical industrial complex in the world, as well as being one of the world's most important centers for the diamond trade.

Mr Ismail underlined that "Belgium, particularly Antwerp, has been at the centre of KPIL's European strategy for many years".  The strategic link to the sea and its central location in Europe makes Belgium an important trade partner for the Kuwaitis as well.

At the inaugural ceremony, the Ambassador of Kuwait to Belgium, HE Mrs Nabeela Al-Mulla, stated that the opening of the new plant is a "symbol of strenghtening ties between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Belgium" and expressed that "Kuwait is blessed with a leadership that has a clear-sighted vision for the future as well as a strong economy that is capable of pursuing infrastructural projects both at home and abroad.  We are determined to maintain our presence in Antwerp".

In Belgium, Q8 is best known for its many service stations along the roads and has an extended retail network of over 300 petrol stations in the country. KPIL has invested more than 20 million Euros in the new plant "to ensure we meet our environmental responsibilities and prove our commitment to being truly world class" said Mr Ismail.  The tanks have a storage capacity of 36 million liters and replace the old tanks which have been dismantled  and removed from the site. The facility is the largest of its four lubricant blending plants and supplies the vast majority of Q8Oils customers in Europe, as well as producing for third parties and other lubricant companies.

Roundtable for Mauritania (June 22 and 23,2010)

HE Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf

Under the High patronage of HE Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, and with the support of the European Union and the collaboration of its partners to development, Mauritania organized on June 22 and 23 2010, a roundtable in Brussels, aiming mainly at presenting the strategic orientations of the government and its public Investment program and mobilizing the partners to development to contribute to financing the Government’s public Investment program, presenting the priority projects for the period 2011-2013 with a global budget amounting to 4,2 billion USD, and the opportunities of investment in the key sectors in Mauritania:

• Oil and Gas: research, exploration, exploitation of oil and gas fields, liquefaction project, etc
• Mining: research, exploration of the basement, mines and carrying exploitation, etc
• Tourism: leisure activities, Saharan tourism, eco-hotels, seaside resorts, lodges, etc
• Agriculture: vegetables and fruits, Arabic gum, cereals, animal feeds
• Fishing: landing infrastructure, aquaculture, traditional and on-shore fishing, technical and commercial partnerships, etc
• Livestock: red meat, leather and skin, milk and dairy products

CCBLA General Assembly (June 9,2010)

On the occasion of its Annual General Assembly, the CCBLA organized on June 9,2010, a business lunch in the presence of H.E. the Ambassador of Kuwait to the EU and Belgium, Mrs Nabeela Abdulla Al-Mulla, as a guest speaker and  with the participation of one hundred persons.

In her speech on the Kuwait Presidency of the GCC, Mrs Al-Mulla underlined the strong financial position and stable economic perspective of GCC countries and the various investment opportunities existing in the GCC countries.  Mrs Al-Mulla mentioned two major projects, initiated under the Kuwaiti presidency of the GCC, the set-up of a unified power grid system and a railway system between the GCC countries and for which the GCC is committed to invest 109 billion dollars over the next 10 years. H.E. announced that Kuwait will inaugurate next month a new petrol storage facility in Antwerp, with an investment of 34 million dollars, while the GCC ranks fifth among the EU partners.

The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finances, Mr Didier Reynders, was represented by Mr Jan Bayart, Diplomatic Advisor to the Belgian State Secretary for European Affairs, who presented the Future prospects for the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council" and exposed the main challenges ahead in the field of institutional, economy, social dimension of the economy, energy & climate & environment, justice and home affairs and enlargement.

The President of the CCBLA, Mr Johan Beerlandt, underlined that the trade between the EU and GCC reaches 90 billion Euros and that the relations among the two parties are growing rapidly in many sectors such as healthcare, education and strategic cooperation adding that the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and the EU and the development of the GCC Common Market will further reinforce this cooperation.

The Secretary General, Mr Qaisar Hijazin, thanked H.E. Mrs Al-Mulla, Mr Jan Bayart, the Ambassadors, the Diplomatic Counselors, the Members of the Board of the Chamber for their participation in the event and their support to the Chamber.