What is economic diplomacy?

Economic diplomacy is one of the basic missions of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (FPS FA), 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.

Belgium promotes economic diplomacy within a scope that respects human rights and the environment. The promotion of our country's economic interests cannot be achieved at the cost of the fundamental values at the heart of Belgian diplomacy. Belgium actively contributes, at European and international level, to the establishment of mechanisms designed to achieve the highest standards, for example in terms of

• business and human rights and due diligence;
• the fight against corruption, money laundering and the financing of terrorism;
• transparency of the mineral market;
• the promotion of sustainable development through trade policy.

Belgium also plays a very active role in the Kimberley Process and, more generally, promoting the sustainable exploitation of natural resources.