This Friday officially marks the end of the Belgian economic mission to Japan, which will have passed through Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto. With, as usual, a lot of contracts signed by companies, academic partnerships as well and high-level diplomatic meetings. Proof of the usefulness of these missions, the previous one which took place in the United States last June has already generated nearly 500 million euros of American investment in Belgium, according to the figures provided. by Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.
“Flanders” all the way
But the latter also gently tackled the Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon during an informal meeting between Princess Astrid, the ministers present and the press. It must be said that Jan Jambon is customary never – or almost – to mention Belgium in his speeches. This was particularly the case during a high-level seminar on decarbonisation in Tokyo where only the word “Flanders” came up aplenty, while globally recognized companies such as John Cockerill (Seraing) were present. What arouse the ire of some French-speaking bosses. It is not a secret either: the N-VA very often calls into question the existence of these missions which nevertheless bring together the federal government and the regions and which are unanimous among businessmen. This does not prevent Minister-President Jambon from praising Flanders and its companies…
“Together, we go further”
A somewhat paradoxical situation that goes wrong. And who made Minister Hadja Lahbib react, who casually tackled Jan Jambon in front of Princess Astrid. The liberal thus concluded the debriefing meeting by questioning her directly on a quote that the elected N-VA himself pronounced. “As you yourself said Mr. Jambon: ‘Alone, we move forward. Two, we go faster. But together, we go further. “What make him get a smile for the less tense.