Smart city are two words that are increasingly included in the activity programme of Brussels Invest & Export. A brief summary of a number of recent and future events, from Barcelona to Bandung
The Brussels agency in charge of foreign trade supports the policy initiated by the Region to gradually transform Brussels into a genuinely smart city. Its area of action includes boosting Brussels enterprises in the sector (especially in ICT) beyond our borders and positioning Brussels as a go-to for overseas companies that develop smart-city products and services.
Destination Asia
On the occasion of the mission to Indonesia led by Princess Astrid in March 2016, a smart-city seminar was organised in Bandung in the presence of HRH Princess Astrid and the Mayor of the city, who is highly active in this area. 10 Belgian companies, including 4 from Brussels, were given the opportunity to present their technologies to an audience of Indonesian public and private institutions.
A series of three trade missions to Asia is also planned at the end of the year with “smart” as their main theme: smart architecture, smart construction and smart infrastructures. India, China and Vietnam will afford our companies opportunities to prospect new markets and connect with local partners.
Selling Brussels in Spain
To stimulate this booming sector, Brussels Invest & Export is also betting on overseas companies. Seminars often provide opportunities for first contacts and the presentation of the advantages and opportunities of operating in Brussels. Our arguments: an active regional smart-city policy, a pool of innovative enterprises in the sector and opportunities at the European level
This was the case for the seminar organised last November in Barcelona as a side event to the highly respected
Smart City Expo World Congress. “Brussels, a key city for smart-city opportunities” attracted many Spanish companies. A morning event was also organised in Brussels at the end of April 2016 with the Spanish Board of Trade in Belgium and Luxemburg, with a view to organising smart-city partnerships between Spain and the Brussels Region.
Such initiatives will boom around the world. They will help make Brussels an open economy and a dynamic region, actively committed to the exciting potential of smart cities.
