EXPORT & INVESTMENT PROMOTION FLANDERS EXPORT ...

EXPORT & INVESTMENT PROMOTION FLANDERS EXPORT & INVESTMENT PROMOTION FINLAND
Export Flanders
Export Vlaanderen:
www.export.vlaanderen.be
As from 1. X.2005:
Flanders Investment & Trade:
www.flanderstrade.be
Investments Flanders
Flanders Foreign Investment Office:
www.ffio.be
A major initiative is currently underway to unite Export Vlaanderen and the
Flanders Foreign Investment Office (F.F.I.O.) to create a single agency, called
Flanders Investment & Trade (F.I.T.). F.I.T. will serve as a single focus for
foreign companies seeking any trade- or investment-related partnership with
Flanders-based companies.
One-stop shopping: Combining both trade and investment activities in one
agency will simplify and streamline your business opportunities with Flanders.
F.I.T. will essentially provide ‘one-stop shopping’ in the areas of:
Finance & economics
Financial grants, benefits, and incentives
R & D support
Technical support
Site selection
Infrastructure and logistics
Advice on legal and tax issues
Licensing & permissions
Labor
Export Finland
FinPro:
www.finpro.fi
ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL ATTACHE OF FLANDERS ? VLAAMS ECONOMISCH VERTEGENWOORDIGER
C/O Belgian Embassy ? Kasarmikatu 14 A 7 ? 00130 Helsinki ? FINLAND
Tel: +358 (9) 626 233 ? Fax: +358 (9) 624 041 ? E-Mail: vlev.helsinki@attglobal.net
As from 1.x.2005:
Finpro
www.finpro.fi
&
Invest in Finland
www.investinfinland.fi
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Investments Finland
Invest in Finland:
www.investinfinland.fi
More cooperation between two separate organizations is under way, but not in an
institutionalized merger.
[Kauppapolitiikka 1/2005]: “Finpro trade centers will in the future have
competence in promotion of investments as well and the interest from the MFA
has been so far bigger than what Invest in Finland has been able to offer. Also,
local investment authorities will join the cooperation.”
[Prime Minister’s Office: Publications 26/2004]: Proposals for action:
• Boost cooperation between actors in order to promote foreign investment in
Finland, and add to their resources. Link Invest in Finland more closely to Finpro
and give it a greater proportion of business environment policy resources.
• The Ministry of Trade and Industry must create a joint strategy for Finpro, Invest
in Finland, TEKES, the Academy of Finland, the Employment and Economic
Development Centers and the foreign affairs administration in order to attract

OTHER:
The Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and
Development Cooperation
NOTE on the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade
and Development Cooperation.
The Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and
Development Cooperation guides the Belgian foreign policy. The network of
Foreign Affairs is comprised of 130-odd Embassies, Consulates and
Representations abroad and in Belgium, with the Main Office in Brussels at the
centre. The leads that come in through the foreign posts are forwarded to the
offices of the regional economic attaché’s.
Export Flanders
Export Vlaanderen has a worldwide network of economic and trade
representatives to help you source the quality products and services you
require. With our 77 offices across 5 continents, we pro-actively link worldwide
business with Flanders.
Export Vlaanderen assists
in discovering what Flanders has in store for you: quality goods and
services, in a wealth of sectors
in finding reliable suppliers in your sector
ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL ATTACHE OF FLANDERS ? VLAAMS ECONOMISCH VERTEGENWOORDIGER
C/O Belgian Embassy ? Kasarmikatu 14 A 7 ? 00130 Helsinki ? FINLAND
Tel: +358 (9) 626 233 ? Fax: +358 (9) 624 041 ? E-Mail: vlev.helsinki@attglobal.net
investments. It is also important to allocate foreign affairs administration
resources and measures to promote international networking of enterprises and
attract foreign investment to Finland, and to pursue an active trade policy to
improve the international business environment.
OTHER:
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Promotion of Export (www.ktm.fi)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for External Economic Relations
www.formin.fi
NOTE on the relationship between embassies and Finpro trade centers
abroad:
Assisting in export promotion is mostly the responsibility of Finpro but also the
embassy in question cooperates with Finpro if there isn’t any representation (the
diplomatic mission network is tighter than that of Finpro trade centers). Embassies
e.g. assist in visits, programs, promotion activities, follow trade policy issues and
spread info on Finland to locals and local info to Finns, first and foremost to SMEs
in these issues. Embassies however do no give out specialist advice or consulting
which is the responsibility of Finpro and/or a specialist company. Embassy
services are normally free of charge except for consular fees and costs promotion
caused to them.
Finpro
Finpro provides services, support and information to help Finnish companies enter
the international market as swiftly, safely and efficiently as possible.
In addition to the Helsinki office Finpro has 52 Finland Trade Centers in 40
countries. Finpro employs 370 persons, 130 of whom are based in Helsinki and
240 at the Finland Tr ade Centers. The staff of the Trade Centers comprise both
Finnish and local experts, who have extensive experience of international business
development or profound local knowledge of the target country, usually both.
Finpro is an expert and service organization whose mission is to speed up the
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in forming other types of business relationships with Flemish
companies,
such as technology transfer or joint ventures.
The Economic and Trade commissioners perform a threefold role:
Gathering and distributing information - country reports, all relevant
data concerning export and trade
Networking - organizing gatherings, trade fair pavilions, export events,
etc.
Facilitating trade - bringing potential partners together, spotting
potential business partners in the country where they are active
Our experienced representatives provide personalized advice and answer your
questions about Flemish goods and services. Traveling throughout their base
countries, they pro-actively seek out business opportunities and strategic export
partners.
At home, our economic and trade commissioners assist Flemish companies in
their export efforts. From regional offices covering all parts of Flanders, and
from the head office in Brussels, experts provide advice and financial support to
help Flemish companies enter new markets and to create fruitful partnerships
with foreign companies.
Export Vlaanderen acts as the first point of contact for companies seeking to
strengthen and expand their business.
ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL ATTACHE OF FLANDERS ? VLAAMS ECONOMISCH VERTEGENWOORDIGER
C/O Belgian Embassy ? Kasarmikatu 14 A 7 ? 00130 Helsinki ? FINLAND
Tel: +358 (9) 626 233 ? Fax: +358 (9) 624 041 ? E-Mail: vlev.helsinki@attglobal.net
internationalization of Finnish businesses. Finpro promotes Finnish Business
Solutions Worldwide.
Our clients are Finnish companies at all stages of their internationalization
development. Finpro's professionals have expertise in Finnish industry, in the
international market and in local business practices in different countries. This
know-how provides help and assistance to Finnish companies in the international
competition.
Finpro works in close co-operation with other service organizations dedicated to
the development of Finnish business enterprises. This co-operation enables our
clients to benefit from the best available expertise and professional skill at every
stage of internationalization. Finpro is a member organization consisting of over
500 companies, the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers and the
Finnish Entrepreneurs Organization. Finpro has started up projects for practical
collaboration with the Employment and Economic Development Centers, the
National Technology Agency Tekes, Finnvera, the Finnish Nation Fund for
Research and Development Sitra, the Foundations for Finnish Inventions, various
research institutions as well as certain capital and venture capital investors. This
makes it possible to guarantee companies that are entering the international
market integrated business development services in issues relating to technology,
markets and funding.
Finpro has services which are free and those which are not.
Companies can become members for a special free depending on their size. For
example, SMEs as defined by the EU pay a 50€ fee plus 500€/year, bigger
companies 1000€/year, banks and financial institutions even more.
Free services also include country files (in Finnish), downloadable on the net, on
reports, basic info and news from 54 countries and basic info on 21 more. Payable
services include consulting, trade fair catalogue, shipping handbooks etc.
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Flanders Foreign Investment Office
The Flanders Foreign Investment Office serves as your direct guide to:
? Finance & economics
? Financial grants & benefits
? R & D support
? Technical support
? Site selection
? Licensing & permissions
? And labor…
As well as other requirements potential foreign investors have.
Evelien Putman
Economical & Commercial Attaché
Export Flanders Helsink i - Embassy of Belgium
Economic Representation of Flanders
Kasarmikatu 14 A 7
00130 Helsinki - Finland
T: +358-(0)9-626-233
F: +358-(0)9-624-041
E-mail: vlev.helsinki@attglobal.net
Website: www.flanderstrade.com
Invest in Finland
ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL ATTACHE OF FLANDERS ? VLAAMS ECONOMISCH VERTEGENWOORDIGER
C/O Belgian Embassy ? Kasarmikatu 14 A 7 ? 00130 Helsinki ? FINLAND
Tel: +358 (9) 626 233 ? Fax: +358 (9) 624 041 ? E-Mail: vlev.helsinki@attglobal.net
Invest in Finland is an expert service organization promoting foreign direct
investment in Finland. This means assisting companies locate operations in
Finland and also serving companies that have already established a presence
here. Funded by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we have more than a decade
of experience in providing investment services. We offer an effective link between
your company and Finnish business sectors.
With our help, locating in Finland will be as smooth as possible – we can provide
all the relevant information and guidance required to establish a business here. In
addition to offering practical assistance in finding the best location and partners,
Invest in Finland offers hands-on professional advice and continuous operational
support. We have an extensive network of contacts and unique, in-depth
knowledge of local business sectors.
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