Flanders

Founded in 2005 by the Flemish government through a strategic merger, Flanders Investment and Trade is a Brussels-based government agency that assists local companies with export expansion and attracts foreign investors. Led by chief executive Piet Demunter and former leaders Joy Donné and Claire Tillekaerts, the organization provides free information and tailored advice across sectors like photonics, medical goods, and information technology. The agency employs 340 staff members across 96 worldwide offices to facilitate international trade and promote the regional knowledge economy. It is funded through an operating budget of over 46 million euros, a subsidy budget of nearly 12 million euros, and an extra budget of one million euros. To further boost international commerce, the agency recently launched the Gateway Britain initiative and introduced the Startup Flanders platform for local startups seeking foreign expansion.