NEWS
IBA and the Turkish Eczacibasi-Monrol join forces for growth in the radio pharmaceutical market in various regions
IBA (Ion Beam Applications N.V.), in Louvain-la-Neuve, a company that produces and commercializes high-quality technologies, pharmaceuticals and custom-made health care solutions focused on cancer diagnosis and treatment, is to collaborate with the Turkish company, Eczacibasi-Monrol Nuclear Products co., for the distribution and sale of IBA’s SPECT radio pharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy, and new molecules in PET radio pharmaceuticals.
IBA will bring in Eczacıbası-Monrol as a privileged partner for the local distribution of IBA products and the ongoing development of nuclear medicine in the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe. The two companies will cooperate closely in these regions for the exploitation of high energy cyclotrons for diagnostic purposes and the production of isotopes for therapy.
Sonaca concludes contract with Bombardier
Sonaca, an aerospace construction company in Gosselies, has concluded a 19.6 million euro contract with the Canadian airplane builder, Bombardier, for the development, design and production of fixed wing leading edges, components for the new Learjet LJ85. Delivery will start in 2012.
Traffic at Port of Liege breaks historical record
The Port of Liege performed well last year in terms of both inland traffic and global transhipments. Inland traffic was good for a transhipment volume of 16 million tons, 1.5 % more than in 2007 and a new historic record. Taking all modes together, 21.8 million tons were transhipped last year, 2.63 % more than the previous year. All modes of container traffic together grew by 14% to 27,459 TEU.
Foreign investments: 776 million euro invested in Wallonia in 2008
In 2008, 122 foreign investment projects were realized in the Walloon Region for a total of 776 million euro. The projects yielded 2,543 direct jobs. In 2007, 70 foreign investment projects were realized for a total of about 439 million euro and 1,907 jobs were created. Foreign investments are becoming steadily larger. Between 2000 and 2008 foreign investors invested about 5.75 billion euro in the Walloon economy. This led to the creation of 15,838 units of employment. The most popular sectors were chemicals, paper, metal, logistics and the agro-food industry. In terms of job creation, logistics came out on top with 2,888 jobs, followed by the metal sector, chemicals and the agro-food industries. Most jobs (11,220) were created thanks to investments from Europe, followed by America in second place with 3,819.
Belgium is the most globalized country in the world
According to the KOF index 2009, which is calculated by the Swiss ETHZ (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich), Belgium is the most globalised country in the world, with a score of 91.02 points. Belgium has been at the top of the ranking since 2004. This year it shares first place with Ireland. The KOF index measures the economic, social and political level of globalisation and is calculated on the basis of 24 variables. The data was collected in 158 countries during the period 1970 to 2006.
Chinese Sinomax group invests in Wallonia: company to build firework factory in Vresse-sur-Semois
The Minister-President of the Walloon Region, Mr. Rudy Demotte, has announced a new Chinese investment in Wallonia. The Chinese group, Sinomax, is to build a European production centre for fireworks in Vresse-sur-Semois in the province of Luxembourg. Specialised in the import and sale of fireworks, Sinomax has been active in our country for the last 20 years, though at the moment it imports the fireworks from China – around 1500 tons in 2007. Now the group plans to establish a European production centre in Sugny. This will strengthen its position at the European level and keep it competitive, as well as giving it access to European technology for the manufacture of its products. Sinomax’s environmental footprint will also be reduced as a result of the drop in imports from China and the reduction in transport on our soil. In addition it will create new jobs. The choice of the former military depot in Sugny is no coincidence. The Sinomax group has used this site for a long time to stock material imported from China before its distribution in Belgium and the rest of Europe. Apart from that it is also the ideal location for production for safety reasons, as it is in an isolated zone. In the initial phase (second half of 2009) the plant will provide 20 new jobs. In the course of 2010 (second phase) that figure will rise to between 50 and 80. An investment of 500,000 euro is involved.
Inauguration of the Microsoft Innovation Centre in Mons on 4 March 2009
On 4 March 2009, the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) opened its doors in the parc technologique Initialis in Mons, in the province of Hainaut. MIC is a public-private partnership between Microsoft and the Walloon Region. Its objective is to stimulate entrepreneurship and help start-ups by offering operational, financial and technological support. It will be focussed particularly on supporting start-ups in the domain of e-health with the development of technological solutions for the health sector. MIC’s goal is to contribute to the establishment of 5 to 10 new companies a year and 200 to 250 new jobs. Apart from that it will also support 50 research and development projects annually and deliver 500 training certificates. Wygwam and Eonix, two small and medium-sized SMEs specialised in new health and welfare technologies plan to anchor themselves in the new project. Voo (communication via cable) and Hewlett-Packard (HP) Benelux have recently associated themselves with the project, too. HP will supply hardware (PCs, servers, printers and storage devices) and Voo will eventually offer applications for internet television for the wider public. MIC will move into a building of approximately 550 m2 in parc Initialis in Mons, where it will form part of a “Digital Innovation Valley” with Virtualis and Technocité.
Liege Airport
In 2008 Liege Airport handled nearly 6 % more freight than in 2007 and 20.25 % more passengers. This growth is mainly due to the arrival of new airline companies that have chosen Liege as their European hub, such as El Al, Ethiopian Airlines and Ukraine International Airlines; an increase in charter flights organised by the tour operators present in Liege; as well as the successful launch of new scheduled flights to Tel Aviv, Pristina and Tirana. In the summer of 2009, 20 destinations will be available from Liege Airport. Thanks to the new Cargo City Nord zone, which will be devoted completely to freight handling, Liege Airport can receive new operators and new airline companies.
Charleroi Airport
The airport at Brussels South Charleroi (BSCA) welcomed around 20% more passengers in 2008 than in 2007. These positive results are a consequence of the excellent occupancy rates to all destinations, the successful expansion of the airline companies and the arrival of Jetairfly. In addition, in 2008 new routes were launched by Wizz Air, Ryanair and Jetairfly, which have proved popular with travellers.
