BELGIUM

Belgium's active role in the international economy and the fact that it is a good transit point to other European countries, both physically and economically, makes it a good partner for the activities planned in Europe.

Being the headquarters of the European Union and many other international organizations, Belgium hosts a large number of personnel of these institutions and this makes the country an important contact center in many sectors, including the construction sector.

Belgium, a country with high export potential, re-exports many products.

It is evaluated that this structure may allow to increase the exports of products originating from our country.

Adding products with high added value and high return among the existing products exported by Türkiye is effective in closing our foreign trade deficit with Belgium. In particular, considering the increasing share of the service sector in the GDP in Belgium, the export of telecommunication products for the use of this sector, as well as electrical and non-electrical machinery and equipment, ready-made food products can be effective in increasing the export revenues of our country.

On the other hand, auto spare parts, ready-made clothing and various textile products, construction materials and food products, which are products originating from our country, continue to be interesting products in the Belgian market. It would not be wrong to list the high quality of goods and services especially for the construction sector in Belgium as an important factor in terms of bilateral cooperation opportunities.

Another outstanding issue in the construction sector is the projects carried out within the framework of the economic cooperation and development programs that Belgium carries out with underdeveloped countries, particularly African countries. In these projects, Belgium's ties with African countries from the past and Turkish contracting companies' experience in the sector are thought to create a great synergy.

Similarly, Belgium is exploring the possibilities of co-operation with democracies established after the ‘Arab Spring’ such as Libya. In these countries, the know-how and experience of Turkish contractors have the potential to turn into projects through partnership.

It is believed that the 200,000 Turkish citizens living in Belgium can be effective in increasing Turkish exports and Turkish investments both in Belgium and in Türkiye. However, the companies established by our citizens currently residing in Belgium are mostly small-scale enterprises.

Increasing joint investment opportunities will be effective in increasing the export potential of our country. Due to the labor costs in Belgium, industries such as textile, iron and steel, furniture and other labor-intensive industries tend to leave the country.

On the other hand, there are opportunities for directing advanced agricultural technology to investments in our country. Preparing the appropriate infrastructure for these investments in our country will create a permanent export potential for the future.

In the meantime, the Belgian State shows great interest in the work of the Marmara Group Foundation. The non-governmental organizations of the Belgian State, which participate in the Eurasian Economic Summits at the level of ministers and deputies from time to time, also host and participate in the activities of the Marmara Group Foundation from time to time.

Belgium participated at the Minister level in our meeting organized with RIIR (Royal Institute for International Relations) at Palais d' Egmont Palace. The participation of approximately 400 people from Belgian intellectuals, academics and journalists in our workshop, which was attended by the then Minister of State Prof. Dr. François-Xavier De Donnea, is in the memory of the Marmara Group Foundation as a non-governmental organization.