Evaluatierapport (PDF, 6.47 MB) - Buitenlandse Zaken - Belgium

FINEXPO EVALUATION
used according to specific needs. As far as FINEXPO transactions are concerned, it should
be noted that:
State-to-State loans do not count with a financing insurance to the Bank. It is
in fact the State itself that provides the insurance. The exporter insures the
export transaction (goods or services, and with or without State guarantee) of
which the premium payment forms part of the value of the transaction.
Interest subsidies: the ONDD insures the financing risk to the commercial
bank in Belgium. The ONDD sets the premium based on the political risk and
the company underwriting. The premium is part of the total transaction cost.
B - Regional Belgian foreign trade institutions
The law of 13 July 2001 enables the Regions to pursue their own policy on commercial
outlets and exports. Such a regional approach to trade has made export funding more
readily available to individual companies.
Wallonia Foreign trade and Investment agency – AWEX
The Wallonia foreign trade and investment agency was created on the 1 st of April 2004
after a fusion between the Walloon agency for exportation and the Office for Foreign
Investors (OFI). The AWEX is in charge of promoting Walloon foreign trade and it deals
with foreign investors in the Region. The board of Directors of this public interest
organisation is composed of 16 voting members representing equally the Walloon
government, employer organisations, and unions. As part of the reconciliation initiated in
1998 between the various departments in charge of international matters of the Walloon
Region and French Community, the Director General of the Agency is also responsible for
Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI).
The main mission of AWEX is to:
Increase international visibility and improve the attractiveness of Wallonia;
Strengthen the professionalism of exporting companies;
Contribute to the annual increase of Walloon exportations, outperforming
European rival regions;
Broaden the geographic and sectoral ranges of the markets;
Ensure an after-sales service.
The AWEX acts with two kinds of instruments through the SOFINEX 68 :
banking instruments: credit guarantee up to 75% and credit for investment
operation (joint-venture, creation of subsidiary company);
tied aid instruments:
- feasibility study to promote Walloon expertise;
- bilateral agreements with Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Congo: a 35%
grant for Walloon goods and services ;
see
68 The Société de Financement de l’Exportation et de l’Internationalisation des Entreprises Wallonnes (SOFINEX) is a joint-stock
company created in September 2003 at the instigation of the Walloon regional government in Belgium and resulting from an
operational collaboration between the AWEX and the SOWALFIN. Generally, SOFINEX can offer assistance to Walloon
businesses in any project of an international nature.
Final report – Appendix 7 – page 134