3 Let’s connect … Cooperation Outside Europe West Flanders’ Province of West Flanders China and the Commonwealth Department of international relations international cooperation and European programmes West Flanders has maintained a friendship agreement with the Chinese province of Zhejiang since 2000, which covers trade, strategy in a nutshell Koning Leopold III-laan 41, 8200 Bruges sustainable economy, and academic cooperation. West-Flanders Belgium, Europe The proactive framework of this cooperation aims to: [email protected] T 0032 50 40 32 53 ‑ Enable West Flemish companies to harness opportunities offered www.west-vlaanderen.be/connectwestflanders by the Chinese market ‑ Attract and support Chinese companies in West Flanders ‑ Develop a robust academic collaboration (education, exchanges, training, and research) International cooperation within cross border and international networks of regions and strategic partners Straits committee, Department Du Nord / Pas de Calais (FR), ETGC Eurométropole Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai (FR) / EGTC West- Vlaanderen-Flandre Côte d’Opale-Dunkerque, Dunkerque (FR), Euregion Scheldemond (NDL), Vlaams Nederlandse Delta (NDL), North Sea Commission, Committee of Peripheral Maritime, Regions, Province of Zheijang (CH), etc. Develop and strengthen triple helix partnerships Masterplan West‑Flanders Public authorities Supporting economic and Higher education and sustainable transition in a West centres of expertise changing context, Brexit, etc. Private sector Flanders connects New Materials Agro-food Blue economy Logistics regions Focus on important Proud of our global connections. sectors and clusters The Province of West Flanders is in a Looking beyond our borders Robust cross-border and unique location. We are the only Flemish international cooperation 1 province to have a border with France We generate exciting economies of scale in West Flanders through our intense focus on local, to the south, as well as an extensive Cross-border cooperation regional, European, and global partnerships. The province benefits from our good trade relations, rich border with the Netherlands to the ‑ Based on the proximity of regions and the West Flanders works with neighbouring regions knowledge-sharing opportunities, joint R&D initiatives, resulting natural socioeconomic coherence in the North of France, Zeeland (NL) and Kent and participation in ground-breaking projects. north and a seaborder that connects and opportunities (UK) in order to eliminate border-related ‑ This cooperation is characterised by a challenges and harness mutual opportunities. broader thematic approach us with the UK, large parts of the rest ‑ Formalised in MOUs, existing protocols, and of Europe and the world. It’s all just a cooperation agreements stone’s throw away. Internationalisation Cross‑border platforms is clearly part of our DNA. ‑ Eurométropole Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai ‑ Flemish-Dutch Delta (since 2011) (since 2008) ‑ Straits Committee, cooperation between Dept ‑ EGTC West-Vlaanderen/Flandre Côte d’Opale du Nord and Pas-de-Calais (FR), provinces Dunkerque (since 2009) of East and West Flanders (BE), provinces of Zeeland and South Holland (NL) (since 2020) n outsid ‑ Euregion Scheldemond, cooperation between eratio e Eur oop ope the provinces of Zeeland (NL), East and West C , Commonweal hina th, . Flanders (BE) (since 1989) C .. ion within Bilateral cooperation agreements erat Eu op rop o ork of Stra e C etw teg ‑ Département du Nord (since 1989) N ic n Pa ea r p tn ‑ Département Pas de Calais (since 2014) o e r r Crossing the Belgian-French border at Rekkem u s ‑ Province of Zeeland (since 2014) E Cooperation, Cooperation, Cooperation ‑ Kent County Council (since 2014) Crossborder From education, research, and economic countries, European partners, and cooperation development to environment, sustainability, international organisations. It stimulates us and agriculture, from mobility and spatial to find unique and creative solutions that Nord-Pas de Calais, planning to quality of life and tourism, take our projects to a higher level. We believe 2 Zeeland, Kent there are cross-border, European and that setting up international partnerships, Tailored advice on project international influences on our daily lives. along with true knowledge exchange, creates Cooperation within Europe These, however, pose an excellent a driving force for innovation, and enriches subsidy submissions opportunity to cooperate with neighbouring our educational and research institutions, businesses, municipalities, and cities. ‑ Mostly economic cooperation West Flanders bolsters and encourages the with regions across Europe with a set-up of strategic European and provincial We offer up-to-date information and advice is evident. During the current programme similar socioeconomic profile projects, focusing on economic priorities on available European subsidy funds to public period, which continues through 2020, about and academic cooperation. Since 2018, West ‑ Focus on provincial economic policies as and private organisations in West Flanders. 180 projects that involved one or more West Flanders has taken an active role as a partner well as the policies of the province’s key We help to identify the best options, provide Flemish partners have been approved. stakeholders and partners (e.g., university region in the Committee of Peripheral Maritime the necessary technical insights, and guide This has led to a significant financial colleges, ports, chambers of commerce) Regions and the North Sea Commission. organisations through their search for stimulus for our region in our pursuit ‑ Strategic partners operating international partners. The added value created of innovation and sustainability. on a project basis by our active policy to pursue European subsidies .