Belgian envoy woos Indian industrialists

CHENNAI: Pierre Vaesen, Belgian ambassador to India, on Tuesday invited Indian businessmen and industrialists to operate their businesses through sourcing from Belgium.He was in the city along with the country’s Consul General in Mumbai, Karl Van Den Bossche, for an interactive session organised by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Addressing the gathering, Vaesan said that Belgium’s economy was diversified in nature.“Chemicals, pharmaceutics, bio-technology, logistics and agro-food processing are some of the sectors which contribute towards the economy,” he said.Belgium being the second largest nation in the European Union, it offers many business-centric measures like the social-security agreement, thus opening up avenues for Indians to seek employment in Belgium. In reply to a query from SICCI president Jawahar Vadivelu on what Belgium has to offer for Indian investors, the ambassador responded that Brussels, capital of Belgium, was a cost-effective option, with great connectivity  to places in  Europe.  “It is almost like the centre of Europe, not only geographically, but also politically. Certain key decisions are taken by the Europeans at the headquarters in Brussels. Being in Brussels can ensure proximity to the decision-making institutions of Europe,” Vaesan observed.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the session, Vaesan said that while around 150 companies had invested in India, approximately 75 Indian companies had invested in Belgium. At least 20 such Belgian companies were operating in and around Chennai, he added. Further, two-third of the entire diamond mining industry in the entire globe was shared by Belgium and Gujarat, India, he said.  Meanwhile, Karl Van Don Bosche announced that,  “Peeters, Minister President, Flanders Region, Belgium, is scheduled to visit Chennai on November 18 with a delegation of 30 to 40 businessmen for a networking programme that would focus on logistics, infrastructure, pharmaceutics, biotechnology, and high-tech  applications.”  He also said that the consulate would take steps to bridge the gap between the businessmen in Belgium and the ones in India to further broaden and develop bilateral trade.”