Conferences and events archivos - Page 22 of 26 - Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg

COCEF celebrates its 130th anniversary and delivers its 2016 awards

20/12/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in France (COCEF) celebrated its 130^th anniversary on 15th December. The Spanish Ambassador in France, his Excellency Ramón de Miguel and the President of COCEF, Mr. José Michel García, handed the prizes of the 2016 COCEF awards.

Among the prizes awarded, SAICA received the Company of the year award, CT Ingenieros the the SMEs award and Mrs. Teresa Ribera (IDDRI director and former Spanish state minister for climate change) received the 2016 Person of the Year award.

During the event held in the prestigious Opera salon of the Paris le Grand Intercontinental Hotel, the president of the COCEF talked about the parallelism between the second industrial revolution and its enormous socio-cultural transformations that took place in 1886 (when COCEF was founded), with the current period, given the revolution taking place in the technological field and the new environmental challenges.

The Ambassador of Spain in France, his Excellency Ramón de Miguel, highlighted the close collaboration between COCEF and the Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in France. He also emphasized the effectiveness and the importance of the role of COCEF in the international trade, for the companies’ services and congratulated and showed his admiration to the COCEF President.

Close to 200 people attended the event, including members of the Spanish diplomatic body and the executives of the most influential companies of both Spain and France.

The President of FEDECOM Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons and the Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber in Belgium and Luxembourg, María Catalán, participated in the celebration supporting the activities developed by COCEF in France.

The Chamber meets with a group of entrepreneurs of Extremadura

19/12/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg received last 16 December a group of entrepreneurs from the region of Extremadura. The visit was part of an institutional agenda organised by the Cáceres and Badajoz Provincial Councils and developed for the entrepreneurs on 14th, 15th and 16th of December in Brussels.

The Secretary General, María Catalán, presented the particularities of the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets and the support offered to new entrepreneurs in both countries. Thus, the group, some of whom had started to run their companies in incubators of Extremadura and others had just won an entrepreneurship award, got to know the programme Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE), in which the Chamber participates as a local contact point in BeLux.

The entrepreneurs, one of whom is going to take part in the Erasmus For Young Entrerpreneurs next January, had the chance to talk to the Secretary General and to solve their questions about the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets.

Gala Dinner 2016 | December 1

02/12/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg hold on the 1^stDecember its Annual Gala Dinner in the NH Collection Hotel Grand Sablon in Brussels, which the participation of the mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, as a guest of honor. Furthermore, it brought together senior executives from both Spanish and international firms, as well as members of the Spanish diplomatic corps and European institutions.

The dinner, sponsored by AECOM company, started with the welcoming words of the president of the Chamber, Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, who thanked all the guests for joining the dinner and went through the bonds of union between Brussels, Belgium and Spain throughout history in his speech. Also, he highlighted the “excellent collaboration” that the Chamber and the public organizations from the city currently maintain.

After him, the Mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, underlined the trade links between Spain and Belgium and emphasized “the excellent economic and institutional relation” hold by both countries. “2.000.000 Belgian citizens visit Spain every year”, commented Mayeur as he recognized that this type of relations among EU member countries “make Europe stronger and more united in front of the separatist movements”.

Mayeur also insisted on the existing international presence in Brussels: “this city is an example of the diversity in Europe”. For that reason, the Mayor stated that it is necessary, despite adversities, to “look positively to the future”.

For its part, and in the same direction, the business representative of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, Jorge Notivoli, also spoke at the event encouraging the attendees to work together to collaborate in the development of the city, after the negative events in Brussels.

Regarding the Spanish situation, Notivoli commented that the country is economically recovering: “we will reach the levels prior to the beginning of the crisis soon”.

After these speeches, the attendees enjoyed a Spanish haute cuisine dinner offered by the Gastronomic Director of the new restaurant Hispania Brussels, Marcos Morán, who holds a Michelin Star and three “Soles Repsol”, served with the Spanish wines of La Buena Vida. Afterwards, Moran and his team presented the Hispania Brussels project, the new Spanish gastronomic restaurant located in the emblematic Sablon neighborhood of Brussels.

The resident group in the Cervantes Institute of Brussels, The New Baroque Times, lived up the dinner with a musical performance. The event finished with a raffle of our associated companies’ products and services, for which we thank their collaboration.

We would like to thank all the attendees for joining us.

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Meeting of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce with ESNE students

16/11/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg received last 15 November a group of students from the Escuela Universitaria de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología (ESNE). The visit was part of an institutional agenda developed for the students on 15th, 16th and 17th of November in Brussels.

The Secretary General, María Catalán, presented the particularities of the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets and the support offered to new entrepreneurs in both countries. Thus, the students got to know the programme Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE), in which the Chamber participates as a local contact point in BeLux. Catalán also reported on the employment programme which is managed right now by the Official Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, the Secretary General discussed about job opportunities presented to young Spaniards abroad.

The students, many of whom have already entrepreneurial spirit in the creative industries sector, had the chance to talk to the Secretary General and to solve their questions about the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets.

Why and how to open a pop-up store in Brussels

01/11/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg took part last 28th of October in the conference organised by Atrium.Brussels (agency of the Brussels-Capital Region that promotes commercial development) about how and why to open a pop-up store in the city.

Due to the growing trend of this ephemeral commerce, Atrium developed a study to analyze the keys for success with a pop-up store. In particular, the project L’Auberge Espagnole, released in Etterbeek in May 2016, allowed it to corroborate the results of its study and communicate them to the attendees.

During the first part of the conference, Arnaud Tixer, Atrium.Brussels’ CEO, explained the reasons for this new business model growth. On the one hand, the change in customer’s behavior: that one has become much more demanding, looking for the unusual and unique at all times. On the other hand, the idea of a pop-up store is also useful for the traders, who can test their business idea reducing risks.

The second part of this workshop continued with some testimonies of the owners of pop-up stores in Brussels, who explained their experience and advised the future entrepreneurs. They all insisted on the need of previous preparation in order to open a pop-up store.

The CRO of Atrium.Brussels, Julien Bacq, highlighted the need to identify themselves with the neighborhood spirit and to maintain strong links with it when we open the pop-up store. These stores, in his opinion, modernize the neighborhood while they keep its essence.

Flore Frédéric, Project Manager of Atrium.Brussels, was the next one to speak. The rapporteur presented the study of Atrium and commented the most important factors to take into account to open a pop-up store. Among them, defining the business model and determining the duration and the purpose of the pop-up store. Besides, Frédéric focused on three key lines to get success: determining the flow and frequency of people, the needs of the target neighborhood and the rent to pay. Finally, she emphasized the importance of the promotion and the communication of the pop-up store, and the required administrative procedure.

The event finished with a round of questions in which the attendees could raise theirs questions. The speaker answered in detail and highlighted the creation of the Google + community to put the potential traders and owners in contact. Furthermore, she stressed the role of Atrium as a local adviser authority in the whole process of the establishment of a pop-up store in Brussels.

Check the study developed by Atrium.

The Chamber takes part in the Young Professionals Networking Night, held with success

25/10/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg took part in the Young Professionals Networking Night, which was last October 20 on the premises of BNP Paribas Fortis. The event was successful and over 150 participants took part in it. Most of them were young people who has just started their professional career and they could know some tips to do networking.

The attendees practiced their making contacts skills in the “speed networking”, which was useful in order to expand their social networks and meet other young professionals of different nationalities, careers and businesses. Thus, professionals of over 13 international and local chambers of commerce took part in the 4th edition of this networking night. Moreover, they also participated in a workshop about the advantages of the crowdfunding to set up a business.

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg helped in the organization of the event and advertised the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, which is a contact point in Belgium.

“Internationalization of Spanish fashion: get to know the benefits of Brussels!”

25/10/2016

Brussels, 20^th October 2016. – The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, in collaboration with Brussels Invest & Export, organised in Brussels on the 20 October the congress “Internationalisation of Spanish fashion: get to know the benefits of Brussels!”. This initiative, supported by “Marca España” and the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, brought together 12 Spanish fashion firms. These ones were informed about the advantages that Brussels-Capital offers for setting new branches in this sector.

The conference began with Jorge Notivoli’s welcoming words, the Business representative ad interim of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, who expressed the continuous support of the Embassy in the promotion abroad of Marca España, and acknowledged the interest of the Spanish companies who joined the initiative. Afterwards, Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, the President of the Official Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, thanked Brussels Invest & Export and the Spanish Embassy in Belgium for collaborating in the organisation of the event. Ariane Leonard, Brussels Invest & Export’s trade advisor in Spain, highlighted the excellent cooperation between the Chamber and her company, which can be used by the participating companies to facilitate their establishment in Brussels-Capital region. Likewise, she pointed at the creativity of the European capital and its name in the fashion sector.

Jorge Notivoli, business representative ad interim of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium	Attendees to the congress
Ariane Leonard, Brussels Invest & Export’s trade advisor in Spain	Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, president of the Official Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg

The fashion and design centre MAD, represented in the event by Elke Timmerman, presented a global view of the fashion sector in Brussels and the role they play in the capital for foreign enterprises. To complete their presentation, MAD distributed among the attendees a guide including information about the market in Brussels and the potential for future investors.

Later, Francorp and Racine Avocats explained how the franchise market works. First, Nick Boury, managing director of Francorp, reviewed the consumption trends of the Belgian citizens: “When going shopping, in Belgium we prefer the street to shopping malls” and explained in detail the different franchise models in Belgium. Bert Dehandschutter and Stijn Clays, from Racine, focused their speech on the legal aspects that have to be taken into account to open a franchise in Brussels.

Nick Boury, Managing Director – Franchise expert from Francorp

Stijn Clays, lawyer from Racine Avocats

The recruitment of workers in Brussels was the next issue discussed. Jarra Jellouli and Aleida Delefortire, from the Brussels employment agency, Actiris, talked about the different types of contracts and explained the advantages they offer to search new employees. Jinbao Zhang, from Group S, gave a deep explanation of the labour costs in Belgium.

Zarra Jellouli, Consultante Employeurs from Actiris

Jinbao Zhang, International Social Advisor from Group S

The local grants for opening new shops in Brussels was also an aspect of interest for the Spanish companies. The speaker David Azaerts introduced the opportunities offered by Impulse agency, as well as the information centre for entrepreneurs in Brussels, 1819.brussels. “The subsidies are mainly targeted to small and medium enterprises”, he pointed. Ward Verdeyen, from KBC bank, introduced the support for investment that his company offers, including credits, rent guarantees and online payments

Ward Verdeyen, Relationship Manager Corporates from KBC bank

David Azaerts, Advisor & Social Network Manager from Impulse

The person in charge of introducing the identification of business premises service offered by the public agency Atrium was Julien Bacq. He attracted the attention of the participants making comparisons of the main commercial spots in Brussels with the most emblematic shopping districts in Spain.

Julien Bacq, Chief Retail Officer from Atrium

Attendees a la jornada

Stefaan Lenaerts, from Brussels Invest & Export, gave some details about the services his entity offers for foreign companies who intend to establish in Brussels. Among all, the Welcome Package was the most highlighted one, due to the fact that offers free installations during a period of three months for the firms interested in evaluating on site the opportunities that this region has to give.

The program finished with the intervention of Maria Catalan, Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, who thanked the visit of the Spanish enterprises and their interest. Likewise, she introduced the activities of the Chamber, as a point of reference and contact for all Spanish firms in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Stefaan Lenaerts, Area Manager Americas & Southern Europe from Brussels Invest & Export

María Catalán, Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg

After the networking lunch offered by Hispania Brussels, B2B meetings were organised.

This initiative forms part of the celebration of the fashion month in Brussels and its Brussels Fashion Days. Spanish fashion is experiencing an internationalization process as never known before. Companies are using as elements of differentiation abroad competitive factors less related with price and more with quality, creativity and business excellence. In 2015, Spanish textile exports broke a new record, growing 7.8% over the previous year. Belgium is the seventh country where Spain exports the most. Moreover, the weight of the sector in the whole industry is more important in Spain than in Europe, reaching 5.7% (out of 12) compared to 3.4% in the rest of the European Union. This effort also leads Spanish companies to be world leaders in the sector and are internationally renowned.

The Chamber and Brussels Invest Export would like to thank all the participant companies for their collaboration, as well as to the Spanish companies, which participated at the event, and made its contribution to the success of it.

The Chamber takes part in the IV Edition of the European Parliament for Enterprises

17/10/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, represented by its President, Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, took part last 13 October in the IV Edition of the European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) organised by the Spanish Chamber, and in collaboration with the European Parliament and EUROCHAMBRES.

The event was opened by the President of the Spanish Chamber, José Luis Bonet, in the welcome cocktail which took place on October 12. As in previous years, in the framework of the European Parliament of Enterprises, a working breakfast was organised between the business delegation and the Spanish MEPs in the Hemicyle the 13 October.

The meeting was held in the European Parliament, from 08:15-10:00 AM in the MEPs’ locations.

After the MEPs’ speeches, a question and answer period was opened and the Spanish business representatives could interact with them.

The working breakfast aims to building bridges between the business community and the European legislators in order to encourage an exchange of opinions and views about policies and Community programmes of interest to companies.

The European Parliament for Enterprises was held during the afternoon. Under the slogan “Europe needs Business, Business needs Europe” more than 800 entrepreneurs of 45 different European countries gathered in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament and rose to their feet to demonstrate their belief in the European project. Besides, they had the chance to have a direct debate with high representatives of the EU institutions and to provide them with a direct bottom-up feedback on EU policies. The Spanish delegation was made up of 70 entrepreneurs and representatives of different Spanish chambers of commerce led by the president of the Chamber of Spain, Jo sé Luis Bonet .

“The time has come for businesses to reiterate their capacity and willingness to provide solutions to the challenges of today: globalisation, unemployment, unfair competition, migration and climate change.” With these words EUROCHAMBRES` Chairman Richard Weber inaugurated the fourth edition of the European Parliament of Enterprises.

During the subsequent debates and votes on trade, the single market, sustainability and skills, companies called for EU policies allowing them to contribute addressing these challenges while being able to compete globally.

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New challenges for the Spanish economy: Sustainable Growth, Energy Union and Immigration

05/10/2016

Young Professionals Night meeting

20/09/2016

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg invites you to link up with other young professionals from no less than thirteen international and local Chambers of Commerce from across Belgium at the fourth edition of its famous cross-chamber speed-networking event.

The 20 October evening will feature a speed networking session as well as a workshop on Crowdfunding, with a What’s-In-It-For-Me approach by Charles-Albert de Radzitzky, COO and Co-Founder of MyMicroInvest and Tarik Hennen, Co-founder of Smartflats, a project partially funded by the MyMycroInvest platform.

Come and expand your network with young professionals from a variety of different nationalities, careers and industries and gain insight into new ways to give your career that extra boost.

Don’t forget your business cards!

Program:

6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Registration

6.30 p.m. – 6.40 p.m.: Welcome and introduction

6:40 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.: Workshop on Crowdfunding, moderated by Philip Van Steenwinkel, Stibbe.

7:20 p.m. – 8:25 p.m.: Speed-Networking

8:25 p.m. – 8:35 p.m.: Raffle draw

8.35 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.: Reception

Organized by:

American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium

American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union

Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Belgium-Japan Association and Chamber of Commerce

Brussels Chamber of Commerce

International Chamber of Commerce in Belgium

Supported by:

Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Canada-Belgium-Luxembourg

Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg

The Belgian-Luxemburg-German Chamber of Commerce

The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce for Russia and Belarus

The Dutch Chamber of Commerce for Belgium and Luxembourg

Venue:

BNP Paribas Fortis, rue des Boiteux 12 Kreupelenstraat, 1000 Brussels

Fee: 25€

* This event is aimed at young professionals (< 40).

Register here. (links to Chinese Chamber website : http://bcecc.be/index.lasso?Lang=Lang1&PageID=13&ID=1446)

We sincerely hope you will be able to join us and the young professionals community in Brussels for what promises to be an outstanding evening!