4 foreign companies in Flanders nominated for the 2022 Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy
Four foreign companies that recently invested in Flanders have a chance to win the 2022 Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy. Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the government agency for international entrepreneurship in Flanders, will be presenting the trophy for the tenth year in a row during the Foreign Investment Trophy. The nominated projects are those of Dutch potato processing group Aviko, French retail corporation Carrefour, the European branch of Japanese cooling & heating solutions expert Daikin and Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars.
The winner will be announced during the 10th-anniversary edition of the Foreign Investment Trophy on Tuesday 22 March 2022. The ceremony will take place at Technopolis in Mechelen with, among others, Flanders’ Minister-President Jan Jambon on the guestlist.
In addition to the Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy, FIT will present two other trophies. The Lifetime Achievement Trophy will go to a foreign company that has been loyally investing in Flanders for years. Meanwhile, the Newcomer of the Year Trophy will be awarded to a foreign investor that has just taken its first steps in the region.
The 2022 Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy nominees
Aviko: Dutch potato processor builds fries factory in Poperinge
Dutch potato processing group Aviko is investing EUR 200 million near the town of Poperinge, Flanders. There, it is building one of the world’s largest and most modern fries factories, a stone's throw away from its existing production facility in Proven. The investment project will initially create 150 additional jobs, but this number could double in time. The first fries will roll off the production lines starting from April 2022. Breaking new ground in terms of efficient and sustainable production, the new factory features high-tech machinery that minimizes both waste and energy consumption.
> Discover more about Aviko’s investment (video and interview).
Carrefour: French retailer opens new Atelier Eclair site in Ternat
French retail corporation Carrefour is investing EUR 28 million to move its bakery division – Atelier Eclair – from Mollem to Ternat. There, it is constructing an ultra-modern site where it will experiment with new recipes, ingredients and baking techniques. From 2022 onward, the site will be responsible for most of the cakes, pastries, eclairs and other sweets that appear on Belgian Carrefour store shelves. These feature the ‘Made in Belgium’ label and play a permanent role in the transition to more sustainable food which Carrefour is committed to. The investment in Ternat will generate more than 20 extra jobs. In time, the French retailer also dreams of opening a training center for aspiring pastry chefs at the new site.
> Discover more about Carrefour’s investment (video and interview).
Daikin Europe: Japanese indoor climate specialist builds innovation center in Ghent
In 2021 Daikin Europe, the European branch of the Japanese Daikin Group, announced an investment of EUR 140 million in a brand-new innovation center at the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and the investment project will create at least 135 new jobs. The center will play a key role in both Daikin’s innovation and sustainability strategies, focusing on heat pumps, cooling technologies for a sustainable cold chain and IoT applications for smart energy use. Moreover, it will serve as a global knowledge center for the entire Daikin Group and work closely with various innovation partners, including Ghent University and research centers such as Flanders Make.
> Discover more about Daikin Europe’s investment (video and interview).
Volvo Cars: Swedish car manufacturer fully electrifies its site at North Sea Port Ghent
Flanders is where Volvo Cars produces both its first and second e-car models. To move up another gear, the Swedish car manufacturer will transform its facility at North Sea Port Ghent into a fully electrified production hub, channeling EUR 150 million into its Volvo Car Gent site and creating over 500 extra jobs. The site will also play a crucial role in Volvo Cars’ ambitions to be climate neutral by 2025 and fully electrified by 2030. In this regard, the company will also work closely with partners such as Ghent University and North Sea Port, in various fields: from talent and product development to engineering and sustainability.
> Discover more about Volvo Cars’ investment (video and interview).
Who will take the mantle from Kuehne+Nagel?
The nominated company with the most votes after three rounds of voting will take home the 2022 Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy on 22 March. The outcome depends on the votes of the public online, a professional jury and the audience present at the Foreign Investment Trophy ceremony.
Whoever emerges as the winner will join this list of laureates:
- Swiss logistics services provider Kuehne+Nagel (2021)
- Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut (2020)
- Austrian chemical giant Borealis (2019)
- Japanese technology company Kaneka (2018)
- French biopharma specialist Sanofi (2017)
- Japanese chemical firm Nippon Shokubai (2016)
- American gas concern ExxonMobil (2015)
- American sports goods giant Nike (2014)
- American chemical company FRX Polymers (2013)
Voting is open as of 22 February at www.foreigninvestmenttrophy.be.
In tandem with local businesses, foreign companies contribute to the economic growth, prosperity and job creation in Flanders. Last year, foreign firms even accounted for a historically high number of investment projects and jobs announced in the region. To recognize and highlight their commitment, FIT will be presenting the Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy for the tenth time on 22 March 2022. In each of the stories behind the nominated projects, crucial themes stand out, such as sustainability, R&D and technological innovation. As such, these international companies are dedicated to having a positive, future-minded impact – in Flanders and beyond.
To further strengthen the resilience of Flanders’ economy and labor market, it is essential to continue attracting foreign investment to our region in addition to supporting export and innovation. It’s important to get Flanders on the shortlist of foreign companies with international growth plans. In our region, they can find a solid talent pool to support their business ambitions. With the annual Foreign Investment Trophy, we recognize the contribution of these companies to our strong economic fabric.
Press contact
Tine Van Valckenborgh, Flanders Investment & Trade spokesperson
E tine.vanvalckenborgh@fitagency.be
M +32 499 24 60 93
Websites
- www.foreigninvestmenttrophy.be – for more about the Foreign Investment Trophy
- www.investinflanders.com – for more about doing business and investing in Flanders
- www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com – for more about FIT
