The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency (BFTA) is a public institution, which is an incorporated body, founded under the Cooperation Agreement (only available in French and Dutch) of 24 May 2002 agreed between the Federal Authority and the Regions. The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency is managed by a Board of Directors whose Honorary President is His Majesty the King.
The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency is at the disposal of these three Regional authorities that promote exports, and also collaborates with the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs. That is how the Agency acts as a vast platform in which the Federal competence of international relations and the Regional competence of foreign trade meet.
Mission Statement
The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency endeavours to provide support to the three Regions and the federal government in promoting foreign trade.
In accordance with Article 3 of the Cooperation Agreement (only available in French and Dutch) dated 24 May 2002 between the Federal Government and the Regions, the Agency is responsible for:
- deciding on and organising Belgian Economic Missions linked to an initiative by one or several of the Regions or at the request of the Federal Government,
- organising, developing and disseminating information, studies and documentation about external markets to regional services responsible for foreign trade in accordance with Appendix 1,
- tasks of common interest decided unanimously by the Board of Directors. In December 2014, the Board therefore decided that the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency would, from 2015, contribute to the logistical organisation and the economic aspects of two State Visits abroad by the King and the Queen of Belgium per year.
First pillar
The first pillar concerns the organisation of two economic missions a year.
These are organised in cooperation with the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX), hub.brussels and Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).
In addition, the BFTA collaborates with the FPS Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for the protocol and political aspects of the programme.
Companies from various industries take part in these missions, which chiefly focus on economic growth regions and countries.
Belgian business representatives can establish high-level contacts with leading local industrial players, organisations and public bodies during these missions.
Second pillar
A second pillar relates to the collection and distribution of information about the foreign markets.The Agency develops and disseminates information, studies and documentation on foreign markets for the benefit of the regional services responsible for foreign trade, with regard to:
A. Regulatory and legal requirements:
1. Belgian and European export regulations;
2. contractual obligations and sales regimes;
3. product control, health regulations and standards;
4. customs and VAT regulations;
5. commercial practices and distribution;
6. transport and import into Belgium;
7. industrial property;
8. establishment abroad;
9. payment methods and commercial disputes;
10. financial sanctions and embargoes.
B. Economic data and practical knowledge:
1. general (macroeconomic and economic analysis, market and sector trends, Belgian market share);
2. national and international comparative statistics;
3. information on foreign markets where projects co-financed by international financial institutions are concerned.
Strategy and objectives
The year 2026 promises to bring strong prospects for the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency.
Her Majesty the Queen will assume the Presidency of the Belgian Economic Missions as of 2026, a development the whole team is delighted about. The Queen’s presidency will lend even greater prestige to the missions, which will undoubtedly benefit Belgian companies.
A Belgian Economic Mission is scheduled to take place in Türkiye from 10 to 14 May 2026, with a focus on Istanbul, the country’s economic hub. The last mission to Türkiye took place in 2012. There is expected to be considerable interest in the mission from companies. The ministerial delegation and part of the business delegation will continue the mission in Ankara from 13 May onwards.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen of the Belgians will pay a State Visit to Norway from 24 to 26 March 2026, with stops in Oslo and Stavanger. They will be accompanied by a delegation of more than one hundred participants.
In the second half of the year, from 12 to 15 October, the Belgian Royal Couple will pay their second State Visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the invitation of President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev.
The second Belgian Economic Mission of the year, presided over by Her Majesty the Queen, will take place in Saudi Arabia, from 20 to 27 November 2026. Given the significant economic opportunities the country offers, the mission is expected to be highly successful.
Since the creation of the Agency in 2002, no fewer than 1,077 contracts, agreements or MoUs have been concluded during Belgian Economic Missions, underscoring their crucial role in the growth of Belgian foreign trade.
In 2026, two economic studies will be dedicated to the countries that are the focus of the missions: Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. In addition, two sectoral publications are being prepared by the Studies department: ’Belgian Clean Hydrogen’ and an updated version of ‘Belgian Health Technologies’, which will also be translated into Arabic, for use during the mission in Saudi Arabia.
The Statistics department will continue drafting bilateral trade notes and trade sheets, quarterly brochures and the annual publications ‘Belgian Foreign Trade’ and ‘World Trade’. The department will answer enquiries from the public and private sectors, the press, companies, students and others, while the TradeXplorer.be and TradeXplorermap.be platforms also provide a wealth of tailored information online.
Finally, investment in a new technology platform to support the organisation of Belgian Economic Missions and State Visits is expected to take place in 2026. This will provide a welcome boost for the mission team, whose dedication contributes enormously to the success of each mission.
Exciting projects that are inspiring the whole team for 2026.
Source: 2025 Activity Report, Belgian Foreign Trade Agency
Date of publication: TBC
Activity report
The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency publishes its activity report annually. In addition to the events and noteworthy facts of the past year, this report also contains all the available information about the institutional and financial framework of the agency, its mission and the strategy and objectives of the Directorate General.
Budgetary allocations
The Agency is funded by an indexed federal allocation and by contributions from the Regions based on the distribution scale with regard to taxes on natural persons..
In 2025, the revenues of the federal and regional institutions amounted to € 4,718,900:
Foundation
In recent decades, the competence for ‘foreign trade’ has undergone some phases of regionalisation in Belgium. Until 1990, the Belgian Foreign Trade Office (Belgische Dienst voor Buitenlandse Handel - Office belge du Commerce extérieur) was the most important institution for export promotion. In 1990, a Walloon agency - Wallonia Export-Investment Agency was founded, followed by a Flemish equivalent in 1991 Flanders Investment & Trade. That same year, Brussels Invest & Export, now hub.brussels was also founded. The Cooperation Agreement (only available in French and Dutch) of 24 May 2002 between the Federal Government and the Regions laid the foundation for the creation of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency.
The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency celebrateD its 20th anniversary in 2023
On the 8th of February 2024, a New Year reception brought together the main partners of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency. His Majesty King Philippe, Honorary President of the Agency, wished to mark this anniversary with His presence. It was an opportunity to recall the history and numerous realisations of the Agency that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.
OVERVIEW OF 15 YEARS
BELGIAN FOREIGN TRADE AGENCY
Pictures of activities
© Belga / © Belgian Foreign Trade Agency
