The Brussels Secretary of State responsible for Foreign Trade Ans Persoons (Flemish socialist, photo above) is in London to inaugurate the Arts & Crafts section of the Brussels Boutique. The Brussels Boutique is a showcase for the products and expertise of Brussels businesses.
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Brussels Boutique in the heart of London
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Ms Persoons told journalists that the Brussels-Capital Region has recorded a 187% increase in exports to the UK market and has returning to the export levels achieved in 2016 and 2017. Exports had suffered in the intervening years due to the impact of Brexit.
Since 2018 action has been taken to address the challenges faced by those wishing to with the UK post-Brexit. Since 2020 the Brussels-Capital Region has been able to make use of 10.7 million euro allocated to it by the European Union as part of its 5.4 billion euro Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
According to Ans Persoons, Brussels businesses have been able to count on the support of the regional trade agency hub.brussels' Economic and Commercial Advisor in London. The figures for 2023 show a sharp increase in the number of companies enlisting the assistance of hub.brussels. Around 150 Brussels companies have sought the assistance of hub.brussels with issues related to trading with the UK.
Brussels Boutique
The Brussels Boutique is the commercial name of a series of pop-up stores that hub.brussels has been opening in the heart of London. From July to December 2023, a series of three themed pop-up stores in priority sectors (food and drink; fashion and design; and arts and crafts) have been set up at Piccadilly Circus and on Regent Street in the West End to allow Brussels-based businesses to test the British market, without paying import duty. Sixty-five Brussels companies have been represented.