Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele delivered his September Declaration today, outlining Flanders' economic achievements and ambitions. The statement highlights Flanders' status as a global player in sectors such as pharma, biotech, and agri-food, as well as the strong export performance of Flemish companies.
Flanders accounts for 1.73 percent of global exports, despite representing only 0.08 percent of the world's population. The Minister-President underscored the productivity of Flemish workers and the European top performance in investment, research, and development. He spoke of a 'warm Flanders' that nurtures talent and contributes to well-being and prosperity.
The declaration identifies productivity growth as the main challenge for future prosperity. To facilitate this, the Flemish government continues to focus on innovation and research. A reliable investment climate with clear rules, less red tape, and faster permits is crucial for entrepreneurs. Support mechanisms are being optimized, and support for refining companies will be discontinued in the current geopolitical context.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence are seen as key tools for increasing productivity, while also addressing the uncertainties these technologies bring. The service voucher system, which helps prevent undeclared work and improves work-life balance, will be reformed to curb budgetary overruns, including an increase in user contributions.
The job bonus will be maintained to strengthen the purchasing power of working Flemish citizens, emphasizing that work must pay.
