On the 29^th of March took place in Brussels the kick-off meeting of  START – Strategic ParTnership to Improve InternAtionalization skills of SMEs in ReTail sector, project coordinated by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg.

After a first online consortium meeting, shortly after the attribution of the project, which served to identify the first steps to be followed in the implementation of the project, as well as the persons responsible for the daily management, this second face-to-face meeting in Brussels, organised by the Chamber, has served to motivate the collaboration and create links between the partners.

The main objective was to start the project activities, to identify the different work packages and the partners responsible for each of them in order to achieve the first result: the development of a mobile report (App) on the competences needed by retail SMEs that decide to internationalise, according to representatives of this sector.

START is a 24-month project that aims to promote the internationalisation of SMEs in the retail sector, stimulating economic growth and development. To assist entrepreneurs and professionals in the retail sector (both future and active) in the development of an international strategy for their business, thanks to an adequate training able to guide them in the internationalisation process and its successful implementation.

In addition, the project will seek to:

• Support the development of the figure of the “internationalisation manager” for SMEs.
• Train entrepreneurs, start-ups and decision-makers in the sector.
• Train young people and unemployed people looking for new job opportunities in this sector.
• Increase the digital literacy of learners to facilitate the distance learning process and to optimise the use of e-commerce technologies to further develop small retail businesses.

We will keep you informed about the evolution of the project!

Last 17th and 18th of March took place in Granada the kick-off meeting of DG VET, Erasmus+ project coordinated by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg.  The aim of the meeting was to initiate the activities of the project and to establish both the lines of work and the future actions for its proper implementation.

In addition, the meeting served to create synergies between the project partners and to identify the persons responsible for each organisation. The fact that the meeting was held in a face-to-face format also made it possible to create links and generate an atmosphere of trust that will allow the collaboration of the partners to be strengthened.

DG VET is a 24-month project which aims to develop innovative training material and methodology, together with an online learning platform to support the development of marketable digital and green skills of NEET youth from rural areas to empower their employability, especially women between 18 and 30 years old.

DG-VET project partners recognize the important contribution of the Digital and Green economy (DaGE) sectors to creating job opportunities for young people living in rural areas.

Furthermore, the project will aim to tackle:

• The digital divide phenomenon: the gap between those living in rural areas and those living in cities in access to ICT;
• The skills mismatch between job requirements and workers’ skills within DaGE sectors;
• The lack of policy engagement in the promotion and implementation of supportive youth-oriented VET programs.

We will keep you informed of the evolution of the project!

On Thursday 2 December 2021, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium in Luxembourg organised the webinar “Buying a second home on the Costa Blanca: the why and the how”, in collaboration with the Spanish company Provia.

During this webinar, the speakers Jesualdo Ros, Secretary General of Provia, and Caroline Clinton, Head of the Customer Service Department of Abaco Advisers, on behalf of Petra Bettens, legal advisor at Abaco Advisers, provided the attendees with information about the process of buying a second property in Spain and the benefits of this acquisition on the Costa Blanca.

Jesualdo Ros was the first to speak, sharing with the audience the statistics related to the purchase of flats and villas in the province of Alicante and giving advice on what are the first steps to take and what to consider when hiring someone to advise you on the purchase.

Price increases

Ros explained to the audience that currently Belgian nationals with property on the Costa Blanca are spending more time in this second home and are buying larger, more expensive and newly built properties. The secretary general of Provia added that because of this, prices have increased by an average of 4% but that the average age of the buyer has dropped to 52 years old.

Next, the floor was given to Caroline Clinton, from Abaco Advisers, who focused on the six steps in the process of buying a property on the Costa Blanca. Clinton explained that her company has provided legal advice to many Belgian nationals looking for a property and has helped them to establish contacts with notaries and local banks.

During the question and answer session, both speakers answered the doubts of the participants regarding the figure of the notary during the purchase process or the differences that exist between buying a flat or a house on the Costa Blanca.

From the Chamber, we would like to thank the speakers for their participation in this webinar and also for the interest of all the attendees.

On November 24th wednesday , from 13:00 to 14:00, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organised together with the partner company MTSpain- Advisor of “Living in Spain” (legal, home, insurance, banks) a webinar on “Bikesperience, routes, live and work in Andalusia (Malaga and Almeria)”. Antonio Jesús Reina from Turismo Andaluz, Heather Cooper (Hike + Bike), Milagros Granizo Muñoz (MTSpain), Maryna Yatsenyuk (Caixabank), Max Van Gorkom (Claire Joster), Cindy Rowe (Tiberghien) and finally, Gilbert Van Fraeyenhoven (Baguet Bicycle Center).

Due to the current situation of COVID-19, more and more people are interested in making the most of the possibility of having a balance between work and the quality of life that Andalusia offers, especially for those who love cycling, sun and open spaces. Thanks to the facilities offered by digitalisation, many Europeans, including Belgians and Luxembourgers, have shown interest in opting for a second home in Andalusia.

During the webinar, the main cycling routes that exist in Malaga and Almeria were exposed and the possibilities they offer for MTB, leisure, e-bike or hiking among others. Then they mentioned the services and facilities offered both financial and non-financial for people who want to work from Spain, taking into account the existing cultural differences exposed from personal experiences.

Among the doubts clarified in the webinar, there were issues related to the purchase of second homes, the most difficult and interesting routes for cycling enthusiasts or issues that may affect cycling groups located in Flanders and the support they may have to move to Spain.

From the Chamber, we would like to thank the speakers for their interventions and all the attendees for their presence.

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