Princess Astrid is traveling to Norway from Sunday to Wednesday with a delegation of more than 450 people, including Belgian ministers as well as representatives of companies and research institutions.
This economic mission is one of two such visits organized each year by Belgium. The central themes of this trip will be the energy transition, the circular economy, life sciences and design. The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted during the preparatory briefing the “close and long-standing ties of friendship” which bring together Belgium and Norway.
The Nordic country is not Belgium’s largest trading partner but Ms Lahbib highlighted the intensification of collaborations in recent years and future opportunities.
Belgian exports tripled
The value of Belgian exports to Norway increased from 1.7 billion euros in 2019 to 4.8 billion in 2023. The value of imports to Belgium, on the other hand, varied greatly due to fluctuations in energy prices . Oil and gas represent more than 90% of imports from Norway. A gas pipeline connects the latter to Zeebrugge.
In addition to Hadja Lahbib, the federal government in current affairs is represented during this mission by Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and North Sea Minister Paul Van Tigchelt. The outgoing Walloon government is personified by the Ministers of the Economy Willy Borsus and of Energy Philippe Henry and that of Brussels by the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Ans Persoons. Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon represents the outgoing Flemish government.
