China-Belgium Cooperation: Technology center connects businesses between both countries

World
Europe

02:55

Located in the heart of Europe, the China-Belgium Technology Center, is the first comprehensive science park investment by China in Europe. Upon its completion, the center will serve as a platform for Chinese enterprises to enter Europe while helping with market entry into China for European companies. Mariam Zaidi has the story.

A delegation of Chinese businessmen and women are ferried on and off a bus. Their destination, a construction site in a small town just south of the EU capital Brussels.

This is the China Belgium Technology Center. The 82,000 square meter plot of land in the university town of Louvain-La-Neuve will soon be home to a smart valley of research, innovation and resources. The CBTC is China's biggest investment project in Belgium – built to serve as a one-stop platform for both Chinese and European companies.

JASON YC LUO CHINA BELGIUM TECHNOLOGY CENTER "Belgium is a relatively small country but in the middle of the western part of Europe. It's gaining a lot of convenience. It's near the European Commission, the European Parliament, all of the biggest players in the life science field, ICT and many others are gathering here."

So far 30 companies have signed onto the project. Close to the site, a 'matchmaking' conference has been organized to drum up more investment and visibility for the project.

GILLES MAHIEU GOVERNOR, BRABANT WALLON "It's the result of a collaboration of four partners: United Investment Group, AWEX, and the University of Louvain. This honor and this European first, underlines Wallonia's investment strategy in terms of financing and eco-systems. The CBTC is a visible example of Chinese investment in Europe."

MICHEL KEMPENEERS COO OVERSEAS EXPORT-INVESTMENT WALLONIA EXPORT-INVESTMENT AGENCY "A lot of sectors from Chinese side are now interested by Belgium. It's a central location in Europe, by our region Wallonia to set up a base also for their European market."

Wallonia has a long industrial tradition. It's seen as an innovator in R&D and highly open to foreign markets and investments. And this project by the CBTC would also create the first Chinese overseas Science Park in Europe.

MARIAM ZAIDI LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE STAND UP "For now this may be just a construction site but by early 2020 the CBTC will be fully operational. Wallonia hopes that this smart valley will put them firmly on China's radar. Mariam Zaidi, CGTN Louvain-La-Neuve."