On September 16, Minister-President Jambon visited the Danish capital Copenhagen. The program included political, economic and cultural contacts, including a visit to the Statens Museum for Kunst and the Danish Design Center.
In the presence of the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeppe Kofod, the Minister-President also opened the new Diplomatic Delegation of Flanders in Copenhagen. The scope of this post covers not only Denmark, but also Finland, Norway and Sweden.
With this, the Government of Flanders wants to express its ambition to strengthen ties with ten Northern countries. By entering into a sustainable and strong collaboration with four Nordic countries, but also with the Netherlands, Germany, three Baltic States and Ireland, Flanders wants to take major steps forward in many areas, including employment, sustainability and innovation.
However, Flanders' ambition with the North goes further than bilateral cooperation and also focuses emphatically on cooperation in the European decision-making process and on the economic aspect. Flanders’ export agency Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) is therefore being reinforced with an extra technology attaché in the Nordic countries, with a focus on climate and health.
Next month, Minister-President Jambon will travel to Sweden for a number of political and economic contacts. Other Flemish ministers are also making plans to visit the Nordic countries and to further intensify cooperation.
Read more about the 'North Strategy' of the Government of Flanders here.
Photo © Matthew James