EC_Abonnement_soyez de ceux qui_A4.qxp - Union Wallonne des ...

Special Guest / Focus
WALLOON EXPORTING:
Open for business!
It’s clear that the
global economic
crisis has hit hard
everywhere, but as
Stéphane Gagné,
Evaluation and
Strategy Manager
AWEX, says, Walloon
companies aren’t
taking it sitting down.
"Of course our overall
export figures are
lower this year",
he comments, "But
we remain active
and competitive in
international markets,
and have seen some
true successes.
The development of
our exports hasn’t
stopped for the
crisis".
by Kirsten ASLING
10. Dynamisme Special Issue
Walloon export figures for the first quarter of
2009 showed the worst decrease since AWEX (the
Walloon Foreign Trade and Investment Agency)
was set up. "We’ve never seen anything like this",
comments Stéphane Gagné. "In the first quarter,
exports plummeted -18.2% compared to the
same period of the previous year, and we expect
similar figures for the second quarter. Before
this year, the worst drop was Q2 1999, when
exports fell -5.1%. So this level of decrease is
unprecedented".
But those numbers alone don’t tell the whole
story. "They must be looked at in context: in
relation to our long-term evolution and to what is
happening with our competitors. And despite the
overall impact of the crisis, Walloon companies
have still experienced some successes and are
building a firm foundation for the future".
The competitive perspective
To benchmark its performance, AWEX compares
Walloon figures to those of Flanders, Germany,
the Netherlands and France. "Our closest
neighbours are also our main competition in
international markets", says Stéphane Gagné.
"Additionally, we benchmark ourselves to the
EU15, for a broader context. And what we see is
that Walloon exports have been –and still are –
performing better than those regions. Flanders,
Germany, France and the EU15 all saw drops of
over -21% in Q1 2009. We even performed slightly
better than the Netherlands".
Average Growth*
(%) 1996-2009(Q1)
Average Growth*
(%) 2009(Q1)
Wallonia 8.7% -18.2%
Flanders 6.8% -21.8%
EU15 6.0% -21.2%
Germany 7.4% -21.2%
Netherlands 7.4% -18.4%
France 4.8% -21.6%
*including natural gas
In fact, Stéphane Gagné comments, Wallonia has
been in the pole position for exports since 1996.
"Our average yearly growth from 1996 to Q1 2009
was 8.7% -- even with this year’s decrease. None
of the other regions topped 7.4%".
"Some voices in Belgium say that the country
has been losing market share to competitors, but
this is not the case for Wallonia. As our average
growth is higher than the competition’s, we are
actually winning market share away from them".
Confidence in international markets
So how have Walloon exports enjoyed this higherthan-average
growth, and why has the crisis had a
lesser impact here than on Wallonia’s neighbouring
regions For Stéphane Gagné, it’s due to the
long-term structural evolution of Walloon exports,
supported by the strategy of AWEX.
"Over the past 12 or so years there has been a
real increase in confidence amongst Walloon
companies in relation to international markets
and exporting. More and more they are daring to
take that step into exporting – which is critical to
Wallonia’s economic success".
Exports account on average for over two-thirds
of the turnover of Walloon companies, and their
growth generates some 10,000 jobs every year.
And while Wallonia makes up about 0.2% of the
world’s total GDP, it is responsible for around
0.4% of international trade.
AWEX has played an important role in this internationalization
of Walloon companies, by providing
support and tools, educating Walloon companies
about the opportunities and encouraging Walloon
firms to enter new markets. AWEX also promotes
Walloon products, service and expertise abroad,
increasing the region’s visibility and image.
"One of our annual goals is to get at least 100
Walloon companies exporting for the first time,
outside of our neighbouring EU15 countries.
This is an objective that we realise and surpass
regularly”.