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

FINEXPO EVALUATION
- Emerging countries fund (60 countries): 35% tied grant.
Their support targets Walloon small and medium enterprises (SMEs - a company is
considered as Walloon when its productive headquarters are located in Wallonia, the
AWEX does not select the companies based on a percentage of Walloon component) that
are neither in financial difficulty nor acting in the bank or insurance sectors or trading
activities without added-value for the Walloon region.
Flanders Investment Trade – FIT
Flanders Investment & Trade was created in July 2005 following the merger of the former
Flanders Foreign Investment Office (FFIO - Flemish foreign investment) and Export
Vlaanderen. This organisation aims at promoting sustainable international business both
in the interest of companies in Flanders and to foreign companies through synergies and
the expansion of networks and expertise achieved by the merger.
Flemish policy supports sustainable and ethically responsible entrepreneurship. Since
three quarters of Flemish exports are directed to European partners, it has become a
Flemish policy to become an active global player and to look for partners in emerging
markets and developing countries. The development component of FIT’s activities has
recently become more important as the agency is now involved in emerging markets and
markets in developing countries. Some of the FIT instruments are especially focused on
“‘non traditional” markets and, today, about half of all FIT subsidies are granted to
activities with (or within) ODA eligible countries. This figure is even higher when capital
goods are concerned.
In order to promote exports, FIT recourses to eight subsidy instruments 69 .One of these
subsidy programmes has objectives comparable to those of FINEXPO: the Flemish
Arrangement for the promotion of goods and supplies (“Regeling aangaande de
terbeschikkingstelling van Vlaamse uitrustingsgoederen ter bevordering van de export” of
March 2000 70 ).
This Flemish arrangement is particularly aimed at SMEs for the export of high value
equipment as used in industry and other capital goods to developing countries (as
defined by the OECD lists). The subsidy levels are equal to the OECD Arrangements
(50% for LDCs and 35% for middle income and transition countries). Although most
conditions adhere to the corresponding OECD Arrangements, no notification is required
since the total transaction value remains below the threshold value for notification.
FIT’s targets are small and medium-sized companies which provide products of which
70% are of Flemish origin.
Brussels Export
Brussels Export is a partnership between the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of
the Brussels Capital Region and BECI, Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry. BECI
was established in 2007 and encompasses the services of the Brussels Chamber of
Commerce (KHNB) and of the Union of Brussels enterprises (VOB), as well as over 150
professional associations and inter-professional organisations.
Unlike FINEXPO at the federal level, Brussels Export does not provide financial facilities
for the transactions themselves, but supports the facilitation of an enabling environment
69 http://www.flanderstrade.be/site/wwwnl.nsf/subsidiesCategorie?readform
70 Besluit van de Vlaamse regering tot vaststelling van de criteria, de voorwaarden en de nadere regelingen aangaande de
terbeschikkingstelling van Vlaamse uitrustingsgoederen ter bevordering van de export. BS pagina 8642, publicatie 18 maart
2000. This Arrangement was amended in 2006.
see
Final report – Appendix 7 – page 135