“The new Community Customs Code” Breakfast-debate

Last Monday, 7 December, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized a breakfast-debate about the new Community Customs Code. Jean-Marie Salva, specialist lawyer on the customs sector and member of DS Avocat lawyer’s office made the report.

The new Community Customs Code will enter into force on 1 May 2016. It is the new issue for the Customs Union, which will replace the current one from 1992. The realization and the delegate acts have already been made public. The new text that was approved after a long debate, has significant advantages for companies that are able to identify these advantages and use them. Topics covered during the session include the status of Authorized Economic Operator, the rules for determining the customs value, modes of representation and the rules related with the setting of the custom value.

After the conference, there was a question time in which the attendees raised doubts such as how to apply the new Custom Code on their sectors, to which Mr Salva answered in detail. The breakfast-debate counted with a large number of participants.

Conference with Deloitte: “Investment in Spain: Current trends and key aspects”

Last Wednesday, 25 November, the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain organized, in collaboration with Deloitte, a conference on “Investment in Spain: current trends and key aspects”. The conference, which took place in Deloitte’s headquarters, counted on the presence of the Ambassador of Spain in Luxembourg, Carlos de Lojendio y Pardo Manuel de Villena, as well as the participation of numerous managers of companies based in Luxembourg with investment interest in Spain.

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The conference started with some welcoming words from Francisco Da Cunha, Tax Partner at Deloitte Luxembourg, who welcomed the attendees and introduced the speakers. Then the Ambassador of Spain in Luxembourg, Carlos de Lojendio, welcomed the guests and highlighted the investment opportunities Spain offers the possible investors, especially in Real Estate, thanks to the progressive improvement of the Spanish economy.

After the welcoming speeches, José María Gómez, representing Deloitte Spain, clearly exposed the economic situation in Spain. On this topic, he introduced the main risks and concerns the current economy faces. Then he highlighted the different investment opportunities in Spain and their benefits. Finally he focused during his speech on exposing the current situation and the possibilities of Spanish Real Estate.

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Francisco Da Cunha, representing Deloitte Luxembourg, focused in his speech on presenting Luxembourg as a financial capital investment mechanism for Spain and the world, as well as presenting the different factors and figures being part of this process. Following this line, he highlighted Luxembourg as one of the main countries in the world for financial investment and asset management.

The conference finished with some closing words from Sergio de Miguel-Jessel, Vice-President of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain, who thanked the attendees for their participation and the collaboration of Deloitte in organizing the conference. He also thanked the role of the Spanish Chamber in Luxembourg as well as the great opportunities it offers to its members in the Grand Duchy.

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On 19 November the Smart City Expo Barcelona was celebrated: Seminar “Brussels, key city for Smart City opportunities”

Last 19 November the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in the seminar organized by Brussels Invest Export in the event Smart City Expo in Barcelona. During the seminar, the opportunities offered by the Brussels Capital region were presented to Spanish businesses within the framework of the project Smart City, that the Belgian city intends to develop shortly.

Ariane Leonard, Commercial Counselor of the Brussels Region in Spain opened the seminar to inform participants on the advantages Brussels offers for the establishment of foreign companies and investment. Carole Van der Borght, head manager of Smart Cities in the region of Brussels, presented in detail the action plans of development of Brussels within the framework of the Smart City project, promoted by the “Centre d’Informatique” for the Brussels Region the next few years.

David Simon, associate director for Bell Pottinger, continued the seminar by offering the attendees a global vision regarding the opportunities offered by the European institutions in Brussels and the access to credit lines. Subsequently, Bert Dehandschutter, Racine Avocats lawyer, explained the legal aspects of representation in Brussels. Finally, Stefaan Lenaerts, representative of Brussels Invest Export and María Catalán, Secretary General of the Official Spanish Chamber, presented respectively the Welcome Package, a free service establishment in Brussels for three months for foreign companies, and complementary services offered to Spanish companies for their activities in the Belgian capital.

The seminar counted on the participation of numerous local companies, as well as representatives of Spanish and Belgian public entities.

Institutional meeting with the city hall of Palma del Condado (Huelva)

On Thursday 22 October, Juan Rodriguez-Villa, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and its Secretary General, María Catalán, received the delegation of the City of Palma del Condado (Huelva) formed by the Mayor, Manuel Garcia Felix, Rocío Moreno (Councilor for Local Development and European Projects), Bella Verano Domínguez (Deputy Mayor of Lepe) and Concepción del Valle Álvarez (Councilor for Local Development of Lepe) in Brussels. The meeting took place in the context of the presentation of the SUDOE Programme in Brussels (http://www.interreg-sudoe.eu/inicio).

During the meeting, many different lines of collaboration were suggested and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the city hall of Palma del Condado and the Chamber of Commerce was proposed, in order to promote trade actions between local companies in Belgium and Luxembourg and joint participation in European projects.

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World Tapas day celebration in Brussels

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Last 22nd of October the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespaña) celebrated the National Tapa Day in collaboration with Saborea España. The event took place all over the world with a program of 127 activities in 17 countries, thanks to the Spanish Tourism Offices Network in Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, U.S, Argentina, Mexico and Japan.

Brussels was the headquarter of the two main activities. During the morning, a press conference took place with Pedro Larumbe (President of Saborea España), Ana Redondo (Culture and Tourism of Counsilor of Valladolid), Rafael Chamorro (Marketing Vice principal of Turespaña) and professor Frédéric Duhart from the Basque Culinary Center.

During the press conference the World Tapas Day project and the activities that took place throughout the entire day were presented, as well as the study “The tapa: the experience behind a bite of Food”, produced by the Basque Culinary Center and sponsored by the DOCa Rioja.

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In the afternoon, an event was organized at the Hôtel de la Poste. Over 150 people from the tourism, media and communications sector and the European institutions attended. They had the chance to discover the Spanish gastronomy through its wines and tapas of the six different Saborea España destinies that were exposed: Cambrils, Denia, Lanzarote, Segovia, Valladolid and Zaragoza.

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Eight brilliant chefs participated in the event that was organized thanks to the collaboration of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and many other Spanish companies related to the world of gastronomy:

  • Rubén Campos Albiol (Club Náutico de Cambrils).
  • Fernando González Garcia (restaurante El Raset)
  • Bati Bordes Seva (restaurantes El Marino y El Marino Rotas)
  • Luis León Romero (restaurante Grill El Toro)
  • Jesús Orlando Ortega de León (restaurante El Lilium)
  • Oscar Hernando (restaurante Casa Silvano ”Maracaibo”)
  • José Ignacio Castrodeza (restaurante Villa Paramesa)
  • Carlos Hernández (restaurante El Candelas)

Meeting of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce with ESNE students

On 20 October, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg received a group of students from the School of Design, Innovation and Technology (www.esne.es). The visit was part of an institutional agenda which students developed on 19 and 20 October in Brussels.

The Secretary General, María Catalán, presented the particularities of the Belgian and Luxembourgian markets and the support offered to young entrepreneurs in both countries. She reported on the Employment Program 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 entrepreneurs in the creative industries sector had the opportunity to talk with the Secretary General. They could address all types of issues relating to the Belgian / Luxembourg market.

Among the attendees fashion designer Paloma Suarez was present, currently awarded with the “Golden Thimble” in 2015, who participated in the Samsung EGO.

Rosa Juanco Art Exhibition

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg invites you to the exhibition opening of Rosa Juanco –Runaway– that will take place on 5 November at 6 PM. The gallery exhibition will be exposed from 5 November till 5 January 2016.

Where: 151 Chaussée de Wavre, 1050 Ixelles Brussels, Belgium

Further information

Celebration of the Spanish National Day at the Embassy of Spain in Luxembourg

On 12 October, the Embassy of Spain in Luxembourg celebrated the Spanish National Day. The event, which took place at the Cercle Cité in Luxembourg, was sponsored by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and was attended by local authorities, businessmen and Spanish representatives of the European institutions, as well as numerous members of the Chamber.

The Ambassador of Spain in Luxembourg, H.E. Carlos Maria de Lojendio and Pardo Manuel de Villena, thanked the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Juan Rodríguez-Villa, for his presence and thanked the Chamber for its collaboration in organizing the event in his speech.

Diabolix Business Club Euro 2016

It’s official, Verhulst Events & Partners offers you the opportunity to invite their business partners and professional contacts to encourage the Red Devils in the match to be held on November 17 against the Spanish National Team. Thanks to Diabolix Business Club you can enjoy the exclusivity of the game in great detail thanks to their VIPs tickets in which a delicious snack and dinner is included.

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“The EU funds for SMEs”

Jorge Cisneros, Member of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, presents his book “The EU funds for SMEs “.

This is a guide to understand the European Union and its funds for companies, as well as to provide access to application submission and participation in the European Development Funds and External Aid.

Prepared by an expert in the field, it is a practical tool to dispel doubts of a company concerning the European Union as a facet of aid to SMEs and to understand the objectives set and to improve economic competitiveness.

It provides an overview of the main aid programs for companies, essential knowledge for all professionals who would like to get into this unknown world.

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