The Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (nationalist) is on a 3-day visit to Scotland. Mr Diependale is meeting with politicians and captains of industry and will also attend a reception to celebrate 25 years of Flanders Investment and Trade.
The Flemish foreign trade agency Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) has organised the visit to Scotland for Flemish companies that are active in the fields of aviation, space and technology. Mr Diependaele is accompanying the businesspeople on the visit that will include a reception in Edinburgh to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the setting up of Flanders Investment and Trade.
In 2023 the Flemish Government signed a declaration of intent covering various field for greater cooperation between Scotland and Flanders. Like Flanders, Scotland has its own government. Since 2007 the Scottish National Party (SNP) has been the leading party in the Scottish Government.
On Tuesday Mr Diependaele signed a plan of action for the implementation on the measures included in the 2023 statement of intent. One of these is cooperation between the Flemish research centre IMEC and Scottish Universities.