The Flemish Trade Commission at the Belgian Embassy in Israel has launched a new project to bring Israeli companies and investors to the Flemish areas of Belgium.

The project is an initiative of Flanders Investment & Trade, a body which promotes sustainable international business and trade in the area.

Flanders Investment & Trade in Israel assists Israeli companies wishing to open a business in Flanders, or expand the activities of an existing company already located there. In addition, the office assists Israeli companies looking for Flemish products and services for import to Israel.

The Trade Commissioner of Flanders at the Belgian Embassy in Israel Jacob Lempert will head the new project offering consulting services and assistance for Israeli businesspeople and entrepreneurs who are interested in setting up a company or expand their activities in the area. The management of the project, which will operate from the Belgian Embassy in Israel, will provide Israeli investors with information free of charge on incentives and grants given by Belgium in their respective areas as well as with consultancy services and governmental contacts. As part of the project relevant business information will be made available on selected sectors that are strong in Belgium including research & development, production and logistics, diamond industry, cleantech and green technology, and high-tech.

For the purpose of the project a new website in Hebrew has been launched which focuses on investment opportunities in Flemish areas and provides information on incentive programs offered by the government for investors at the web address www.investinflanders.co.il.

Flanders Investment & Trade was created in July 2005 by the merger of the former Flanders Foreign Investment Office (FFIO) and Export Vlaanderen. Its aim is to promote sustainable international business in the interests of both Flanders-based companies and foreign enterprises through the synergies and widened networks and expertise achieved by the merger.