Good afternoon.
Proof, if we needed it, of the importance of international companies for Belgium is in an article today in The Brussels Times.
It's not just the EU institutions that contribute to employment and the economy. Of course, many of these multinationals are here because the EU is here, but these companies employ a large number of Belgian nationals, particularly in increasingly important new industries.
This can have a hugely positive effect for upskilling and attracting the Belgian workforce to new areas of study and training, and plugging it into the wider global economy.
For a small country like Belgium, this is critical. As it moves away from older industries and transitions to new sectors, it's extremely helpful if you can attract and retain the investment of multinational large companies, who understand that they will have access to the skills and workers they need to grow their foothold here and in Europe in general.
Smaller economies like Belgium can carve out a niche for themselves going forward, and a lucrative niche at that. But it does require a strategy and a willingness to engage in encouraging and allowing investment in certain areas, and the imagination and flexibility on the part of the government to take advantage of opportunities before they pass you by.
This is perhaps the biggest challenge that Belgium, with its highly layered and fragmented economic, social and governmental structures, faces.
That, and the ability - and desire - to communicate to your population the huge advantages to society as a whole of seizing opportunities and taking advantage of the positive work that has already been done in transforming the country.
We are holding an evening event this evening Wednesday 12 November, which will discuss the ongoing financial issues of Brussels. Join The Brussels Times After Work Debate for an in-depth discussion with newly appointed Brussels Finance Minister Dirk De Smedt and a panel of experts from finance, academia, and politics. For more information and to register, click here.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. Staying in Belgium after Temporary Protection ends: It’s complicated
For more than 93,000 Ukrainians living in Belgium, the opportunities beyond temporary protection remain uncertain. Read more.
2. Multinational firms hold key to a third of Belgian jobs
A tiny group of multinational companies provides almost a third of all jobs in Belgium, new figures from Statbel show. Read more.
3. Belgium will be held accountable if Russian frozen assets are seized, says Russia
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service said the consequences "will not be small" for Belgium if Russia's frozen assets are unlocked. Read more.
4. Northern Lights might be visible tonight in some parts of in Belgium
The lights were visible over Belgium and the Netherlands yesterday evening, and experts are hoping for a repeat spectacle tonight. Read more.
5. Body found in Laeken as police launch investigation
The area was quickly sealed off, and investigators from the prosecutor's office were sent to the scene. Read more.
6. US contraceptives blocked in Belgium: majority of stock lost due to ‘substandard storage’
For months, $9.7 million worth of contraceptives meant for women in low-income countries has been gathering dust in a warehouse in Geel, Antwerp. Read more.
7. Liège man nearly decapitated his wife when he killed her, court hears
Abrahim Oufrirh El Khoulati was described by his family as a violent father and husband. Read more.
