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 joint 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. Its Overseas Business Opportunities Centre specialises in the distribution of three types of trade information: overseas public tenders, international projects and trade proposals. The department also offers public procurement guidelines, specifications for a tender at cost, personalized foreign trade statistics subscriptions, newsflashes with economic information as well as market regulations. It organises seminars with experts in public contracts.
On April 1st 2015, a new package named Trade4U was launched, allowing companies to receive personalised business opportunities through an app. The BFTA also publishes econonomic studies, country studies and memos containing comparative national and international statistics about foreign trade. Finally, the agency also provides advice about international trade regulations and legislation.
Strategy and objectives
2025 promises to be another banner year for the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency and its partners, with an intense programme including two State Visits, two Belgian economic missions and ambitious publications.
A joint economic mission to India is scheduled for 1 to 8 March 2025. This mission, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, will take the Belgian delegation to New Delhi and Mumbai. The previous Belgian economic mission to India dates back to 2013, so it was high time to visit again. 328 registrations were received, underlining the significant importance of this destination for Belgian companies.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen of the Belgians will be making a State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the invitation of President HE Luong Cuong from 30 March to 4 April 2025. They will be accompanied by a delegation of around 150 people.
Two months later, on or around 25 June, the Belgian Sovereigns will travel to Chile for a second State Visit, at the invitation of President HE Gabriel Boric.
The 2nd Belgian economic mission of the year will take place from 4 to 11 October 2025. The Belgian delegation will visit the West Coast of the United States (San Francisco & Los Angeles). After the successful mission in June 2022, which brought together 540 participants for visits to Atlanta, Boston and New York, this new mission is also very promising.
Since the Agency was set up in 2002, no fewer than 909 contracts or cooperation agreements have been signed during princely missions. With the missions to India and the United States scheduled for 2025, we are well on the way to reaching the milestone of 1,000 contracts, an achievement that highlights the impact and value of these missions.
In 2025, two economic studies will be devoted to the countries covered by the missions: India and the West Coast of the United States. The Studies Department is also preparing two sector-specific publications: Belgian Defence and Clean Hydrogen.
A fine list of achievements for 2025.
Source: 2024 Activity report, Belgian Foreign Trade Agency
Date of publication: 1st trimester of 2025
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 (2023 - 2024)
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 2023, the revenues of the federal and regional institutions amounted to € 4,617,979:
In 2024, the revenues of the federal and regional institutions amounted to € 4,672,992:
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
