AmCham Belgium

🎬 PRESENTING: #AmChamBelgium - 2023 Year in Review In 2023, AmCham Belgium celebrated its 75th anniversary, marking a major milestone in our journey. This year was all about celebrating our legacy, reflecting on our past and looking forward to the future. We launched new initiatives, introduced new membership categories and continued to make a real difference for our members in the public debate as the voice of US and international companies in Belgium. We could not be more grateful or excited for what 2024 has in store!

Our Young Professionals Committee had the pleasure of visiting Coca-Cola’s Customer Innovation & Collaboration Center, known as KOlab.   KOlab serves as a hub for inspiration and collaboration, where diverse minds come together to identify new opportunities and innovative concepts that contribute to joint business planning. Following our exploration of KOlab, we then learned more about Coca-Cola's research and development. Did you know that many of Coca-Cola’s new beverages sold around the world are developed in their Research and Development Center in Brussels?   A big thank you to Stijn Belaen and The Coca-Cola Company for their hospitality!   Lastly, we are excited to announce some changes within the Young Professionals’ leadership. Tibo G. has assumed the role of Chair, supported by Isabella Beck Jørgensen and Hannah Van Deun as Vice-Chairs.   Interested in learning more about the Young Professionals Committee? ➡️ Reach out to our Committee Officer, Sarah Ceulemans, or the Committee's leadership.

Last week, our CEO, Stéphanie Rutten, represented #AmChamBelgium at the Transatlantic Business Works Summit. She joined 40 other AmChams in Europe executives from over 30 countries! The summit brought together top business leaders and key US stakeholders to discuss critical issues shaping transatlantic relations and global commerce.   A highlight of the summit was the enlightening session featuring Former Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, who provided unparalleled insights into the "Future of the Single Market Report." His expertise and vision added tremendous value to the discussions, further reinforcing the importance of transatlantic cooperation in driving economic growth and innovation.

AmCham Belgium's Legal & Taxation Committee was pleased to welcome David Leisterh, President of MR Brussels, at their latest meeting.   Mr. Leisterh delved into MR's vision, in view of the upcoming elections, and how to retain and attract international companies to Belgium (and Brussels more specifically) when it comes to investment, innovation and talent. Reviewing processing times for permits (fast track procedures) and a better collaboration between public and private actors are possible solutions.   Mr. Leisterh not only offered his insights on how to increase Brussels' employment rate, but also emphasized the necessity of significant investments. International companies as private investors, for example, could be part of a bigger strategy to address Brussels’ budgetary challenges.   Special thanks to Jérôme Terfve and Tetra Law for hosting us!   Interested in learning more about the Legal & Taxation Committee? ➡️ Reach out to our Committee Officer, Sarah Ceulemans, or the Committee's leadership, An De Reymaeker, Pieter Van Den Berghe, Adeline Bruyere and Vicar Yang.

Our election debate on #talent was stimulating and full of interesting takeaways! It was a pleasure to have prominent speakers from various political backgrounds join us for this enriching dialogue: Gilles Verstraeten (N-VA), Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld), Jolan Vereecke (Mouvement Réformateur (MR)), Jean-Albert, "J-A" Nyssens (Les Engagés.be - Mouvement Participatif) and Wassim Essebane (cd&v). At the heart of our discussion were crucial aspects of talent development: 🔹STEM education across all levels 🔹Dialogue bridging schools, academia, and industry 🔹Frameworks for continuous learning 🔹Digital inclusion 🔹Winning the war for international talent 🔹Strategic employment cost reforms Here are some compelling facts and figures that emerged during our conversation: 📊 46% of Belgians aged 16 - 74 are considered digitally vulnerable, with 39% having weak digital skills (EU average = 34%). 📈 To achieve the 80% employment target by 2030, approximately 570,000 additional jobs must be created. 💼 Belgium is home to 118,978 US jobs. Today, Belgium's allure hinges on its skilled workforce, a magnet for investors. Yet, we confront three significant challenges: 1) the rapidly evolving business landscape necessitating new skills, 2) the global talent competition and 3) high labor costs. Our dialogue delved deep into these pressing concerns, paving the way for innovative solutions and collaborative efforts. A big thank you to BEPS International School for having hosted us! #AmChamBelgium #TalentDevelopment #Education

Members of our Digital Economy initiative had the pleasure of hosting Michael Freilich, Member of the Federal Parliament, at their latest meeting. Michael shared his insights on digital priorities for the future government, strategies for maximizing AI benefits and bolstering our cybersecurity. He also reflected on previous legislation and highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to technology and digital inclusion. He made it clear that we must embrace technology as the enabler of future growth. A special thank you to Qlik and Benoit Van Cangh for welcoming us! Interested in learning more about our Digital Economy initiative? ➡️ Reach out to our Committee Coordinator, Sarah Ceulemans, or the Committee's leaders, Benjamin Baelus, Jeremy Zeegers-Jourdain and Erwan Bertrand.

Our Patron CEO Circle gathered at Deloitte Gateway in Zaventem for a special luncheon, overlooking Brussels Airport. We had the privilege of hosting Ambassador Hendrik Van de Velde, General Coordinator for the Belgian EU Presidency 2024.   Ambassador Van de Velde shared insights into the priorities of the Belgian Presidency as it nears its conclusion in June. It was an informative and engaging discussion, giving our CEOs a deeper understanding of the European landscape.   We're grateful to Ambassador Van de Velde for joining us and to Deloitte for graciously hosting us.   #AmChamBelgium #PatronCEOCircle #BelgianPresidency #EU2024

At the Transatlantic Conference organized by AmCham EU, our CEO Stéphanie Rutten underscored the critical importance of the Trade and Technology Council in nurturing transatlantic ties. During the Belgian Presidency, it's imperative to prioritize these discussions which serve as the cornerstone for fostering innovation, collaboration and mutual prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

Yesterday, our Human Capital & Talent Committee welcomed Pascale Perard, President of the International Coaching Federation. She shared valuable insights on effectively managing change processes, emphasizing clarity in purpose, process and partnerships concerning SDG and ESG initiatives. We learned how coaching plays a crucial role in guiding individuals through change processes, particularly in integrating sustainability efforts. Special thanks to Procter & Gamble and Lieven Meganck for their warm welcome!   Interested in learning more about our Human Capital & Talent Committee? ➡️Reach out to our Committee Officer, Sarah Ceulemans, or the Committee's leaders, David J. Webber, Jennifer Granado Aranzana and Stefanie Tack for more information.   #AmChamBelgium #SDG #ESG

AmCham Belgium, together with Fulbright, had the privilege of holding a thought-provoking event centered around Geert Noels' book, "Capitalism XXL: Why the Global Economy Became Gigantic and How to Fix It." With a keen focus on the dynamics of our contemporary economic landscape, the discussion delved into the implications of the trend towards bigness across various sectors. The event served as a platform for engaging dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in our economic systems. We extend our gratitude to Geert for joining us and to Liedekerke for their invaluable partnership in making this event possible. Commission for Educational Exchange between the U.S., Belgium and Luxembourg #AmChamBelgium