The regional government in the Brussels-Capital Region says that at least 14 of the “Brussels Houses”, offices that promote Brussels in cities abroad are to close. The Brussels Houses in Milan and Barcelona are among those facing closure. The scaling down of the Brussels-Capital Region’s presence in cities abroad is part of a wider programme of savings and cuts the aim of which is to balance the region’s budget by the end of the legislature.
On Thursday the Brussels regional government decided which Brussels Houses are to be closed.
The Brussels Houses promote Brussels-based companies worldwide and showcase Brussels as a tourist destination. At least 14 of the 33 offices are set to close.
The First Minister in the Brussels regional government Boris Dilliès (Francophone liberal) says that the decision has been taken in line with the region’s strategic interests. Factors taken into account included the number of clients served per office each year, the market share of Brussels’ exports and the added value provided by having a local presence on the ground.
In addition to Milan and Barcelona, the Brussels Houses in Abu Dhabi, Belgrade, Copenhagen, Geneva, Hanoi, Montevideo, San Francisco, Shanghai and Vancouver are also set to close. Previously Mr Dillès had announced that the Brussels House in the Cuban capital Havana is also to close.
This will leave 18 Brussels Houses in Berlin, Dakar, Kinshaha, London, Madrid, Montréal, Nairobi, New York, Paris, Mumbai, Stockholm, Tel Aviv/Ramallah, São Paolo, Tokyo and Warsaw. The office currently located in Singapore will move to Kuala Lumpur.
Royal missions
The Brussels Houses in Rabat and Istanbul will also remain open at least for now although they may close at a later date. The Brussels region government intends to keep them open for the time being as in the Royal missions to Morocco and Turkey are planned within the next year and a half.
Mr Dillès told journalists that “Maintaining 33 offices abroad is a luxury that Brussels currently cannot afford. The money must be spent where it is useful and where it provides added value.”
It is not known what will happen to the staff that currently work at the Brussels Houses scheduled for closure. However, the Brussels regional government says that there will be no redundancies.