Flanders' four largest industry federations signed a 'Future Pact for Flemish Industry' with the Flemish government. The message: industry is a fundamental pillar for prosperity and employment. And the sector plays a crucial role in major societal challenges such as digitalisation, the energy and climate transition and the circular economy. There is therefore a need for an ambitious industrial policy that focuses on competitiveness, innovation, talent, transition and an attractive investment climate.
In the presence of more than 300 CEOs of industrial companies in Flanders, the very first Flemish Industry Summit was held at the Antwerp Lotto Arena. It immediately kicked off the final festival of Flanders Technology & Innovation (FTI). The summit is an initiative of the Industry Forum, the structural consultation platform between the Flemish government and the industry federations Agoria (technology), essenscia (chemicals and life sciences), Fedustria (textiles, wood and furniture) and Fevia (food).
Competitiveness
The competitiveness of industry in Flanders, accounting for over 1.1 million direct and indirect jobs and about half of all research and development investments, is under severe pressure. There is therefore a need for forward-looking industrial policy that attracts investment and anchors quality jobs.
Decisive manufacturing industry
Jan Jambon, Flemish prime minister: "A prosperous future for Flanders is impossible without a strong, decisive manufacturing industry. But our companies face enormous challenges. Fortunately, there has recently been a realisation at all levels that we must also link an industrial agenda to the sustainability agenda. I think it is fantastic that we can work side by side in Flanders. The Flemish Government shoulder to shoulder with industry. With the Future Pact we are now signing together, we are laying down a clear path for a sustainable, performing and strong industry in Flanders."
Toekomstpact
Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation and Work: "Flemish industry is facing major challenges. And this will also be the case in the coming years. It is therefore important that we sign a Future Pact together with the industry federations and the Flemish government. This pact responds to five concrete and diverse building blocks. We are also giving it concrete implementation. By the Flemish Government, at my suggestion, a transition instrument has been approved to support companies in their investments in large-scale CO2-saving techniques. We are thus taking an important step to support industrial companies in their climate transition."
Coherent policy focus
Successive crises, geopolitical conflicts, high wage and energy costs, stagnating productivity, an uncertain licensing policy and labour market tightness put strong pressure on the competitiveness of industry in Flanders. With a 'Future Pact for Flemish Industry', the Flemish government and the involved industry federations want to provide an effective response to this with the ambition to make Flanders a top industrial and innovation region in Europe. This calls for a coherent policy focus and a long-term targeted approach.
Five building blocks
Future Pact focuses on five building blocks: (1) Competitiveness and international trade, (2) Investment and legal certainty, (3) Innovation, (4) Talent and (5) Energy, climate and circular transition. For each of these building blocks, a number of commitments have been laid down. Thus, within a European context, Flanders will continue to insist on the need for a level playing field. Flanders is also continuing to work on a legally robust and proportional licensing, environmental and environment policy, with legal certainty for long-term investment cycles. In addition, the commitment to spend 3% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on Research & Development (R&D) remains unchanged. Lifelong living will be promoted and, to promote electrification, care will be taken to ensure that no new policy costs are included in the electricity bill for companies in Flanders and further containment will be sought. These are just a few commitments from the future pact.
Sustainable prosperity
Ann Wurman, director essenscia vlaanderen: "Industry is indispensable if we want to create sustainable prosperity. Industry must therefore be given every opportunity to grow further here in Flanders. International competitiveness, legal certainty for investments, stimulating innovation even more, less regulation, extra efforts on STEM education and lifelong learning, a technology-neutral and stimulating industrial transition framework. These are all crucial building blocks for a sustainable industry and society. With the Future Pact, together with the Flemish government, we take up the challenge to make this happen, based on more than thirty concrete commitments."
Industry Forum
In the Future Pact, which is also supported by Flemish ministers Gwendolyn Rutten, Ben Weyts and Zuhal Demir, the partners also underline the importance of continuing the Industry Forum also with the next Flemish governments in order to outline and further develop that industry policy together. In doing so, it is also important for Flanders to weigh in on the European decision-making process and push for a strong industrial policy at European level, an Industrial Deal that safeguards the international competitiveness of industry.
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Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán via Pixabay
