The Belgian connection
Taking place from June 1 to 3 this year in Louvain-la Neuve, in the Wallonia region of Belgium, the Futurallia is a forum for small- and medium-sized business representatives from around the world.
The event is designed to create a network of as many international business partnerships as possible in the shortest possible time. Participants are entered into a catalogue of over 1,000 companies from which each chooses potential business partners. The organizers then match each company with 12 other businesses who have complementary needs. The two days, filled with high-powered half-hour face-to-face meetings, force participants to focus on the business at hand.
"It's very effective," says Sławomir Najnigier, vice president of the city of Wrocław. "Companies receive cheap access to markets in over 40 countries, and one third report returning with valuable contacts."
Futurallia 2006 will be held in Wrocław, which hopes to attract 1,200 participants, including 300 Polish firms.
Eric de Clercq, the trade and economy advisor for the Belgian Embassy in Poland, believes this year's event will be particularly profitable for Polish businesses.
"Belgian companies are more and more open to Polish products, which are gaining an even better reputation. For some of our companies, the Berlin Wall hasn't fallen yet, but this is changing extremely rapidly."
Poland now attracts more exports from the Wallonia region than such traditional trading partners as Austria, Denmark, Greece and Portugal. Wallonia's position in Europe puts major European markets such as London, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam within 200 miles. "Having a base in Wallonia is not a completely crazy idea for Polish companies," says de Clercq.
Polish representation at the event has been increasing since 2001, when 11 Polish businesses participated. Last year, in Politiers, France, 40 Polish companies took part, half of which are returning this year.
For those interested, EUR750 (zł.2,957) gets a company profile in the Futurallia database and catalog, a tailored meeting schedule, three nights' accommodation, meals and cocktails, translation services when needed and a one-year subscription to the Futurallia intranet-allowing you to follow up on or expand the contacts you make at the event.
Polish companies have an extra incentive, since the Ministry of Economy and Labor is offering to foot up to 50 percent of the bill. Since financing will come from EU structural funds, time is tight: the deadline for applying for funds is March 7. Interested parties should contact the Wrocław Convention Bureau (who will also help with all the paperwork) as soon as possible. May 15 is the final deadline for reserving your spot at the convention.
For more information, call the Wrocław Convention Bureau at (71) 347-51-87 or visit www.futurallia.com n
The event is designed to create a network of as many international business partnerships as possible in the shortest possible time. Participants are entered into a catalogue of over 1,000 companies from which each chooses potential business partners. The organizers then match each company with 12 other businesses who have complementary needs. The two days, filled with high-powered half-hour face-to-face meetings, force participants to focus on the business at hand.
"It's very effective," says Sławomir Najnigier, vice president of the city of Wrocław. "Companies receive cheap access to markets in over 40 countries, and one third report returning with valuable contacts."
Futurallia 2006 will be held in Wrocław, which hopes to attract 1,200 participants, including 300 Polish firms.
Eric de Clercq, the trade and economy advisor for the Belgian Embassy in Poland, believes this year's event will be particularly profitable for Polish businesses.
"Belgian companies are more and more open to Polish products, which are gaining an even better reputation. For some of our companies, the Berlin Wall hasn't fallen yet, but this is changing extremely rapidly."
Poland now attracts more exports from the Wallonia region than such traditional trading partners as Austria, Denmark, Greece and Portugal. Wallonia's position in Europe puts major European markets such as London, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam within 200 miles. "Having a base in Wallonia is not a completely crazy idea for Polish companies," says de Clercq.
Polish representation at the event has been increasing since 2001, when 11 Polish businesses participated. Last year, in Politiers, France, 40 Polish companies took part, half of which are returning this year.
For those interested, EUR750 (zł.2,957) gets a company profile in the Futurallia database and catalog, a tailored meeting schedule, three nights' accommodation, meals and cocktails, translation services when needed and a one-year subscription to the Futurallia intranet-allowing you to follow up on or expand the contacts you make at the event.
Polish companies have an extra incentive, since the Ministry of Economy and Labor is offering to foot up to 50 percent of the bill. Since financing will come from EU structural funds, time is tight: the deadline for applying for funds is March 7. Interested parties should contact the Wrocław Convention Bureau (who will also help with all the paperwork) as soon as possible. May 15 is the final deadline for reserving your spot at the convention.
For more information, call the Wrocław Convention Bureau at (71) 347-51-87 or visit www.futurallia.com n
