Economic diplomacy

Economic diplomacy plays an important role for Belgium, which is one of the largest exporting countries and among the most globalised countries in the world.

Economic diplomacy

Economic diplomacy is therefore one of the basic missions of the FPS Foreign Affairs, and in particular of its Directorate of Economic Interests (B3), which plays an important coordinating role between the various actors involved in the definition and implementation of economic diplomacy, both at federal and regional levels.

  • What is economic diplomacy?

    Economic diplomacy plays an important role for Belgium, which is one of the largest exporting countries and among the most globalised countries in the world.

Economic diplomacy in the Belgian institutional context

According to the repartition of competences within the Belgian constitutional framework, economic diplomacy falls within the competence of federal and regional actors, as well as parastatal bodies.

  • Economic diplomacy in the Belgian institutional context

    According to the repartition of competences within the Belgian constitutional framework, economic diplomacy falls within the competence of federal and regional actors, as well as parastatal bodies. Since the state reforms of 1988, 1992 and 2002, the focus of foreign trade - an important dimension of economic diplomacy - has been at the regional level.

International transport

The International Transport Policy Directorate of the FPS Foreign Affairs (B4) deals with issues related to international transport and traffic.

  • International transport

    The International Transport Policy Directorate of the FPS Foreign Affairs (B4) deals with issues related to international transport and traffic, in collaboration with the relevant services of the FPS Mobility and Transport, Defence, the private sector and business organizations, the European institutions, our foreign interlocutors, and of course our diplomatic missions abroad. It contributes that way to the positioning of Belgium as a major logistic hub and to the development of our ports, airports and transport companies.

Bilateral investment treaties

The purpose of bilateral investment treaties is to protect the investments of Belgian companies abroad against arbitrary government action.

  • Bilateral investment treaties

    The purpose of bilateral investment treaties is to protect the investments of Belgian companies abroad against arbitrary government action. These treaties are reciprocal. On the one hand, they give Belgian companies an increased degree of protection abroad and, on the other, they attract foreign investment into the Belgian economy. Belgium always concludes its investment treaties with Luxembourg within the framework of the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union.

Due diligence

At the initiative of EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, the European Commission launched a legislative initiative on sustainable corporate governance in 2020: the ‘Initiative on Sustainable Corporate Governance’.

  • Due diligence

    At the initiative of EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, the European Commission launched a legislative initiative on sustainable corporate governance in 2020: the ‘Initiative on Sustainable Corporate Governance’.

Export financing (Finexpo)

Finexpo is an inter-ministerial advisory committee managed by the Directorate financial support to exports (B2) within the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and by the Administration for International and European Financial Affairs of the Federal Public Service Finance.

  • More information about Finexpo

    Finexpo is an interministerial advisory committee which is managed by the Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is chaired by the Director-General of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the vice-chairman is provided by the Ministry of Finance. It comprises representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Development Cooperation, Finance, Economy and the Budget, and also includes representatives of Credendo and the Regions.

  • Types of aid (tied, untied and commercial)

    These aid instruments contribute to concessional financing of targeted export operations. Concessionality means that public buyers in developing countries do not have to repay the full amount of the loan at market conditions. Finexpo allows the buyer longer repayment terms, lower interest rates and/or a grant.

  • Instruments

    Below you will find the description and procedure of the following instruments, namely a tied loan from State to State, a mixed credit or a loan from State to State combined with a commercial credit, a grant, an interest bonification with or without a grant, technical assistance, an innovation instrument for SMEs, a renewable energy instrument for SMEs, an untied loan from State to State, and an interest stabilisation.

  • Finexpo documents

    Consult all Finexpo documents here.

  • Export possibilities per country

    This application helps you to determine the export possibilities for a particular country.

Logo Finexpo

More information about Finexpo

Finexpo is an interministerial advisory committee which is managed by the Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It ...