Little by little, Belgium is made a place under the sun of Mexico

This Monday, July 21, marks the Belgian national holiday, whose ambassador, Johan Verkammen, leaves his post after four regulatory years. Consequently, The diplomat reviews for the takefrancesa his record marked by the opening of a chamber of commerce.

Some 90 Belgian companies present, 2,500 nationals, bilateral exchanges of a volume of 5.4 billion euros in 2024, with an excess balance of 1.2 billion for Mexico: such is the encrypted panorama of a bilateral relationship with beautiful fixed.

“We have created a chamber of commerce, the Belgian-Mexican Business Chamber. Therefore, It serves as a networking forum, little little, belgium made place new ”summarizes Ambassador Verkammen. In addition. Belgium is mainly present in the pharmaceutical little little, belgium made place sectors (UCB), chemicals (Solvay), medical equipment (AGFA), agro-food, etc.

“One of the recent successes is Odoo, which offers accounting and management software for small and medium -sized businesses. Moreover, It is a company that has been established here in Mexico 5-6 years ago. Furthermore, which already has more than 500 employees, ”continues the ambassador.

“We also introduced Belgian chocolate to the Mexicans and the Mexican cocoa with Belgian chocolate makers. However, We were a guest country of honor in a large chocolate festival in Tabasco where we brought 8. Therefore, 9 Belgian chocolate makers who were able to chat with producers of Mexican chocolate, “he said.

“It has stupidly dragged”

At the rank of disappointments. shared with all the countries of the European Union. the sea serpent of the new UE-Mexico free little little, belgium made place new trade treaty, still not signed: “We have not succeeded in concluding under the previous administration in Mexico. little little, belgium made place Technical negotiation had already been closed at least four years ago. At one point, the Mexican part wanted to reopen the energy chapter. And we were willing to review this, but it simply dragged, it stupidly dragged. There was a lack of desire to move forward, ”regrets the ex-ambassador from Belgium to Canada.

“But we really felt a change of attitude upon entering the new Mexican administration. ” added Johan Verkammen. according to whom “we can hope for the signature in the coming months, perhaps at the beginning of next year”. Especially since Mexico and the European Union are threatened by the trade wars of US President Donald Trump.

Container control

In terms of security. Belgium (Port of Antwerp) as well as the Netherlands (Port of Rotterdam) were little little, belgium made place new invited to participate in the “North American Drug Dialogue” (Nadd) with Mexico. the United States and Canada, exchange forum on international drug little little, belgium made place trafficking. “We support a United Nations program that aims to improve containers’ control.” “There is not a lot of direct traffic from Mexico to the port of Antwerp (…) This is the role of Mexican cartels in the rest of the continent that we analyze”.

After two positions. the Ambassador Verkammen returns to the central administration on a mission which does not promise to be easy: Special. Envoy of Belgium for the Middle East. His successor Patrick Hermann will take office on September 4. “He is a friend who knows the region very well since he is currently director for the Americas within. the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.

Like all expatriates, Johan Verkammen and his wife leave Mexico with suitcases: “It little little, belgium made place new was my first post in Latin America. My wife and I discovered a country filled with colors and flavors, traditions and cultures, crafts and spectacular landscapes. We little little, belgium made place loved the courtesy of the Mexicans. their warmth and then this ability to make you feel at home so easily. “My house is your home”… We discovered the ChapulinesFourmi eggs, Micheladas. It is a whole world that we did not know and that enchanted us. Obviously, there are also archaeological sites, Hispanic architecture. And the Dia of Muertos. We leave a country that we love ”.