The Belgian Days, an annual flagship event by the Belgian Business Chamber (BBC) in Warsaw, fosters connections and partnerships between Polish and Belgian business communities. The 26th edition, held from November 12 to 15, 2024, featured six events over three days.
Over three intense days, six events were organized, focusing on key industries where Belgian companies are strongly represented, providing all participants with market insights and collaboration opportunities.
This year, the Belgian Days was opened by the first edition of the “Transport & Industry Seminar”. The meeting focused on the key challenges that the manufacturing, logistics, and transportation sectors will face in the coming years. It was an excellent opportunity for leading Belgian companies such as Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Smulders Projects Poland, Cyclops Poland, Phronesyss, and BZEN to exchange experiences and discuss innovative, sustainable and intermodal solutions. The event featured two panel discussions centered around effective production practices and the future of European transport. The substantive part of the seminar concluded with a presentation by PwC Polska regarding investment incentives available to foreign investors.
"Organizing events such as the 'Transport & Industry Seminar' as part of Belgian Days is crucial for the industry and the integration of the Belgian business community in Poland. It is a unique space for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, the presentation of innovative solutions, and a joint analysis of the challenges and opportunities brought by dynamic market changes. It enables the establishment of valuable business relationships that translate into strategic partnerships. Such meetings build bridges between companies, supporting economic development, mutual understanding, and innovation in key sectors such as transport and industry." - Michał Werle, Operational Manager at Cyclops Poland.
The second event of the Belgian Days, the “Midnight” Concerts, combined the world of music with networking at the trendy Hala Koszyki food court. The evening was enhanced by a performance from the saxophone quartet “441,” which flew in from Brussels for the event and took guests on a pleasant journey through the history of jazz. The concert was organized with the support of the Julian Cochran Foundation and hub.brussels.
On Wednesday morning, the flagship Real Estate Conference took place, serving as the annual platform for sharing knowledge and experiences among representatives of the Polish-Belgian real estate market. Moreover, participants had the opportunity to establish valuable connections with the PropTech delegation (dedicated to the digital transformation of the real estate sector) consisting of ten companies that arrived from Brussels with the aim of building relationships with Polish partners. The program was rich in inspiring panel discussions that delved into the most pressing challenges awaiting the market. Among these, issues related to the housing shortage and high market prices were highlighted, as well as perspectives on the evolving situation in Ukraine and matters regarding the green transition.
In the evening, the Chamber had the pleasure to host over 100 participants during the "Belgian Business Mixer", which took place at the Weles bar. It was the perfect occasion to establish new business connections in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying typical Belgian delicacies such as mussels, beers and exquisite chocolates. During the event, the BBC also held a charity raffle, with all proceeds going to support the Lapigua Foundation. In this way, participants not only had the opportunity to forge business relations but also contributed to a noble cause by supporting refugees from Ukraine.
On Thursday morning, the "FinTech & Innovation Summit" took place, aimed at highlighting the presence of Belgian companies in the Polish financial sector. The event began with a presentation by Euroclear, a leading financial market infrastructure provider supporting a wide range of securities, including bonds, stocks, and investment funds. This was followed by BNP Paribas, which highlighted several innovative startups it has successfully supported in their growth and expansion journeys. The final workshop, hosted by CRIDO, explored critical tax incentives, equipping entrepreneurs with insights to leverage available opportunities effectively. The day concluded with a lively panel discussion featuring nominees for the prestigious Belgian Business Chamber Award 2024.
The Belgian Days culminated in the annual CEO Forum at the iconic Villa Foksal. The event brought together leaders from prominent Belgian companies active in Poland. Among the distinguished guests was Konrad Wojnarowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy who established a dialogue with Belgian investors. During the gala, the winners of the prestigious BBC Awards—Ghelamco Poland, Bopro Poland and Bionest—were also announced.
"For 26 years, the Belgian Days have been a household name in the entrepreneurial world in Poland. Year on year, activities are organized to further inform and guide every entrepreneur involved in trade relations between Poland and Belgium. To give just one example, I refer to the annual Real Estate Conference. The pinnacle, however, is the CEO Forum which brings together Belgian and Polish CEOs in an informal way every year. Truly, the best are present there. Cottyn Lawyers is therefore very proud to have been able to support this important event for many years now and to have built up a lot of contacts as a result. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to support the CEO Forum." - Marc Cottyn, Partner at Cottyn Lawyers.
(WBJ)
