CCBLA - Arab-Belgium-Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce - ABLCC

Chamber Activities

Belgian Luxemburg Arab Economic Forum 2010

November 30, 2010

The ABLCC organized the sixth annual edition of the Arab-Belgium-Luxemlburg Economic Forum on November 30, 2010 in Brussels. The Forum was held under the auspices of and in close cooperation with the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, the League of Arab States, the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and the Arab Embassies in Brussels, and in coordination with the Embassies of the Kingdom of Jordan, the Lebanese Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic, Guests of Honour of the Forum.

This event furthermore benefited from the patronage H.E. Mr. Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium/ In his keynote speech, the Minister mentioned the historical relations between the Arab world and Europe and said that "The Arab economies are the engine of European institutions while the European market is the engine of Arab economies." He detailed the deep relationships between Belgium and the Maghreb countries, Egypt, the Middle East and the GCC countries.

Opening speeching were also delivered by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Salem Al Suweidi, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Philippe Suinen, Chief Executive of the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency "Awex", a representative of the Luxemburg Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, and Mr. Thomas Dupla del Moral, Director Middle East and southern Mediterranean of the Department for External Relations of the European Commission.

Mr. Nael Kabiriti, a member of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries praised on behalf of H.E. Mr. Adnan Kassar, Chairman of the Union of Arab Chambers, the strong relations between the Arab countries and the European Union at all levels and the need to build a genuine partnership between both sides.

Guests of Honour

The first session focused on the guests of honour of the Forum : Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The members of the Jordanian delegation presented the Jordanian economy, and Mr. Nael Kabiriti, Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce, recalled that his country had "prepared a legislative environment appropriate to encourage investment and infrastructure,” while seeking to achieve integration and facilitate the movement of citizens and businessmen between the Jordan and the European Union. Senator Hatem Halawani, Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, called for a modification of the rules of origin to be in line with the interests of small and medium enterprises, and in favour of the removal of non-tariff barriers. Mr. Nasser Sunnaa, Executive Director of the Investment Authority in Jordan, focused on legislative measures and facilities provided by Jordan to investors, and Dr. Salim Al-Maghrebi, representative of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, detailed the advantages of Aqaba Special Economic Zone.

On the Lebanese side, Mr. Fouad Trad, General Director and CEO, Byblos Bank Europe, gave a presentation on behalf of the IDAL, outlining the advantages offered by the Lebanese economy to investors, while Mr. Mounir Bissat, the representative of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Lebanon, stressed the importance of the services sector in the Lebanese economy. He noted that Lebanon has not been affected by the crisis thanks to its strong economic and financial relations with the Arab and international institutions in the Arabian Gulf region.

Speaking about the Syrian economy, Mr. Saeb Nahas stressed on "Syria's role in the transport of energy from Iraq to the Mediterranean and the transport network linking Turkey with Saudi Arabia". Dr. Ahmad Abdul Aziz, Director General, Syrian Investment Authority, said that his country developed the legislative base necessary to stimulate investment without ignoring the social dimensions, and added that "4 industrial areas were established in 2004 and have attracted investments of $9 billion." Mr. Leon Zaki, representative of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, praised the Syrian policy aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector and providing the right environment for national and foreign investment and promotion of foreign trade, while Mr. Mazen Jabri, head of the Syrian part of the Syrian Belgian Businessmen Council reviewed the activities of the Council.

During the second session, which focused on the Belgian and Luxemburg skills and technology in the fields of renewable energy, logistics, transport and infrastructure development, and chaired by Mr. Ghassan Ejjeh, vice president of Besix, Mr. Ioannis Kaltsas, Head of the Institutional and Polity Unit & ENP countries operations of the European Investment Bank, made a presentation on the nature of the projects funded by the European Investment Bank in the Arab countries, while Mr. Rudi Thomaes, CEO, Federation of Belgian Entreprises, detailed the technological experiences of Belgian companies. Case-studies were presented by Mr. Patrick Wilmart, Commercial Director Power & Gas, Tractebel Engineering (GDF SUEZ), more particularly concerning the company's activities in the Arab countries.

About 200 people participated in the Forum, including Arab, Belgian and Luxemburg personalities and economic experts, along with a significant number of Belgian companies interested in economic and trade relations with Arab countries. The Forum thus offered an opportunity to economic experts and businessmen from Arab countries, Belgium and Luxemburg to interact. The growing attendance in this annual event is a strong indication of its success and of the importance given by both sides to develop economic relations, trade and cooperation, and the role played by the Chamber in this regard.

Forum on Renewable Energy and Strategic Partnership between the EU and the Mediterranean countries

Organised in cooperation with AGORIA and DESERTEC, January 18th, 2011

Agoria and Desertec, in collaboration with the ABLCC, organised this most important meeting to discuss the opportunities offered by the vast partnership between the European Union and the countries south of the Mediterranean.

Participants were able to learn in detail on the vast potential for the development of solar and wind energy and the existing projects to build an interconnected grid connecting the European Union and the Arab countries.

The European Commission is indeed striving to create a framework to secure alternative supply routes and sources to enable large scale projects such as Nabucco and Desertec.

Most countries in North Africa also have ambitious renewable energy targets : Morocco projects to have 42% renewable energy by the year 2020, Algeria 40% and Egypt 20%. A partnership between the European Union and these countries to develop these projects is to create substantial economic growth prospects.

Symposium on the relations between Luxemburg and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

January 19th, 2011

On the occasion of the visit of HRH the Grand Duke of Luxembourg to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a seminar was organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg on January 19th, 2011, in collaboration with our Chamber of Commerce. Key note speakers during the meeting included H.E. Mr. Jeannot Krecké, Minister for Economy and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg, and H.E. Mr. Abdullah Al-Moualimi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian, while the Secretary General of the ABLCC stressed the importance of the ongoing developments in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia was indeed recently ranked as the 11th most business-friendly country by the World Bank and for the sixth consecutive year as the “Best country to do business with” in the entire Middle East. This most favourable ranking is a result of a keen policy aimed at streamlining the process of conducting business and the efforts to make the Saudi economy more accessible to foreign investors.

The Kingdom thus emerged as a significant player in the world economy and the impressive investment projects are creating enormous investment opportunities. In the energy, transportation and industrial sectors, investment projects worth $500 billion are in the pipeline, with $300 billion planned in the energy sector alone. Economic reforms have also attracted huge foreign investments into the country and the Kingdom was ranked the eight largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world in 2009, attracting $36 billion. The stock of foreign direct investment in Saudi Arabia thus grew to an estimated $147 billion, distributed over a wide range of sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, financial services, mining, oil and gas exploration, transport, telecommunications and information technology.

The seminar offered a unique opportunity to discover more about the development of the country and to prepare the upcoming economic mission.

Business Workshop on Arab Countries

January 25th, 2011

The Chamber organised its annual workshop with the Ambassadors of Belgium accredited in the Arab countries in cooperation with its partner Linklaters.

The workshop is an opportunity to inform the members of the business potential of the Arab countries and the development of the bilateral relations. The meeting furthermore addressed the economic outlook of the Arab region and the upcoming activities of the Chamber aimed at strengthening the relation.

Several Belgian Ambassadors took the floor, more particularly H.E. Mr. Johan Indekeu, Ambassador of Belgium in Jordan and Iraq, H.E. Mr. Bruno Nève de Mévergnies, Ambassador of Belgium in Egypt and H.E. Mrs. Anick Van Calster, Ambassador of Belgium in the United Arab Emirates.

The speakers outlined the various aspects of the economic situation in these countries and invited the Belgian companies to develop their presence on these markets.

Over 80 officials and representatives of companies assisted the meeting.

Business Opportunities in Syria

The ABLCC organised on January 31st a Round table with H.E. Mrs. Françoise Gustin, Belgian Ambassador in Syria, and interested members of the Chamber to discuss the opportunities offered by the Syrian Arab Republic.