The Chamber and StepStone company sign a collaboration agreement

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg has signed a collaboration agreement with StepStone, a leading digital employment platform with more than 20 years of experience in the search of online workers, with the aim of benefiting all members of the Chamber as well as the users of the Empleobelux.com portal.

On the one hand, this collaboration will facilitate the search for employment to all users of the web managed by the Chamber as the number of daily published offers in which Spanish is demanded will be expanded.

Also, thanks to this collaboration, the members of the Chamber will be able to benefit from a 15% discount on the first publication of job offers through StepStone. The information corresponding to the application of the discount is published on the Intranet of the Chamber and it is addressed exclusively to members. StepStone has a large pool of candidates with Spanish proficiency that complements the ones of the EmpleoBelux portal, which is an added value for companies that need to incorporate employees with this profile in Belux.

With this recent collaboration, the Chamber seeks to provide a wider and more beneficial service for its members and users of EmpleoBelux, facilitating the processes of personnel selection in Belgium and/or Luxembourg thanks to a recognized company such as StepStone.

The Chamber accompanies ONCE and Ilunion in signing the loan with the EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing ILUNION with EUR 35 million in financing with the objective of creating jobs for people with disabilities and investing in improving energy efficiency.   This is the first loan made by the EIB to a social economy enterprise in Spain and it receives the backing of the Investment Plan for Europe, known as the ‘Juncker Plan’.

The agreement was signed in Brussels last 25 of September by Vice-President of the EIB, Emma Navarro, and President of ILUNION, Alberto Durán, during a ceremony attended by Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, and President of the ONCE Group, Miguel Carballeda. Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons y Pablo López Álvarez, President and Vice President of the Chamber also participated in the act.

 

The project promotes social inclusion and will create 200 jobs, which highlights the potential of the social economy as a generator of employment for people with disabilities.

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/news/first-eib-loan-social-economy-enterprise-spain-ilunion-receives-eur-35-million-under-juncker-plan-2018-sep-25_es

President of FEDECOM takes part in the Plenary Session of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Juan Rodríguez- Villa Matons, President of FEDECOM (Federation of Official Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania), took part last 18th July in the plenary session of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, which took place at Endesa company headquarters.

The President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, recognized the good work done by the Government of Mr Rajoy and the impetus given to the cameral system, after the approval of the Basic Law 4/2014 of 1st April on Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation. Furthermore, he expressed his determination to continue having a close collaboration with the new government.

Then, the results of the recent elections hold in the territorial chambers were notified to the plenary session.

The presidents of the ports, digitalization, circular economy and employment commission showed the work that they were developing. It was presented the new challenge due to the economic cycle changing, as well as the society need for adaptation and, particularly, to the new digital era.

Ramón Paredes, president of the employment commission, highlighted the need to adapt youth training to the new market challenges, to face an increasingly professional training offer.

All the commissions are looking for new solutions, working closely with the administration, to optimize the advantages imposed by the new economic horizon.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce General Director announced the opening of a new Chamber in Malta, and the upcoming implantations in Malasia, Singapur, Tailandia, South Korea and the UAE.

Besides, it was announced the future participation in the European Parliament for businesses next 10th October in Brussels.

It is also being analyzed the celebration of the biannual COMECOES (Chamber of Commerce foreign networks) meeting in Madrid.

The Presidency, Executive Committee and the Plenary mandate will expire in the frame of the next November the Plenary Session, consequently new members will be elected.

Afterwork with members in Luxembourg

Last July 12th, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized an afterwork among members of the Chamber in Luxembourg. The event took place at Hotel Meliá Luxembourg. The after-work is an initiative of the Chamber that seeks to promote networking and generation of new business opportunities among its members.

The event had many attendees, among them members and supporters of the Chamber.

The event counted with the collaboration of Hotel Meliá Luxembourg, which presents its services to all the attendees. Besides, it offered an aperitif, allowing them to interact and enjoy an ideal environment to generate business opportunities.

From the Chamber, we would like to thank Hotel Meliá for its support. We hope to keep on working next to them in future editions and events hold in Luxembourg.

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Meeting of the Board of Directors

On May 31st, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Chamber took place in Brussels.

The Board of Directors approved the annual accounts for the year 2017 for its presentation at the General Assembly Meeting that will take place on June 28th in Brussels.

Also, new projects and activities to be developed in the coming months were presented.

Afterwork with members of the Chamber

Last May 17th, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized an afterwork among members of the Chamber at the Hispania Brussels restaurant. The afterwork is an initiative of the Chamber that seeks to promote networking and generation of new business opportunities among its members.

The event had more than forty participants, including members of different companies associated to the Chamber, Spanish public bodies and this time it was attended by representatives of Latin American embassies in Belgium.

The Chamber offered an aperitif to the attendees, allowing them to interact and enjoy an ideal environment to generate business opportunities. The afterwork was, once again, a success and the Chamber wishes to continue with this initiative.

 

In collaboration with:  

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Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Chamber

On April 18, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Chamber took place in Brussels.

During the meeting, several projects were presented to be developed in the coming months focused on the support of Spanish entrepreneurs in Belgium and Luxembourg, training in European affairs and the organization of networking activities at a local level, mainly.

Likewise, the restructuring reform of the Chamber’s staff was discussed in relation to participation in European projects.

Visit of ESNE students to the Chamber

Last April 13th the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg received the visit of ESNE students (Escuela Universitaria de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología) of Madrid.

María Catalan, secretary general of the Chamber welcomed the teachers and students. The meeting started with a brief presentation of each assistants.

After that, the secretary general presented the activities and functions of the Chamber, highlighting the organization of events. In relation curses that the students are taking, it was recalled how the Chamber collaborated in the organization of the DS Brussels Fashion Days – Spanish Edition.

Subsequently, Arturo Ibañez, Proyect manager of EYE (Erasmus for Young Enterpreneurs) in the Chamber, explained this European program, its benefits and the facilities that the Chamber offers to participate on it.

Finally, Catalán introduced the website of the Chamber, EmpleoBelux, which has the aim to help youth who want to live or work in Brussels.

To conclude the meeting, the students had the opportunity to present their doubts and concerns to María and Arturo.

 

Our newsletter turns 100 issues

The newsletter of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg turns 100 issues  this month. With more than 3,000 subscribers, the newsletter is sent twice a month in two versions: Spanish and English. It collects information about the activity of the Chamber and its associated companies as well as news of interest for Spanish companies in Belgium and Luxembourg, among other contents.

Created in 2014, our newsletter is already considered as an indispensable communication tool for all those Spanish companies with a commercial or representation activity in Belgium and / or Luxembourg.

Still not receiving the newsletter? Subscribe by sending an email to info@e-camara.com with the subject “RECEIVE NEWSLETTER”

 

Presentation of the Chamber at the University of Antwerp

On March 14th,María Catalán, the Secretary General of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Belgium and Luxembourg, took part in the conference organized by the University of Antwerp.

The workshop was geared towards economics students. Maria Catalán presented bilateral trade data between Belgium and Spain and the role played by the Chamber for Spanish companies in Belgium.

Additionally, the Secretary General informed the students about the projects that the Chamber develops in relation with employment and entrepreneurship like the outstanding European program Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, for which the Chamber is a local  point in Belgium and whose objective is to promote the exchange of experiences among entrepreneurs in Europe.