The IE expo Guangzhou 2020 was held during September 16-18 at China Import and Export Fair Complex (Canton Fair Complex). According to its official website (http://gz.ie-expo.com/), 401 exhibitors provided insights into innovative technologies and sustainable environmental solutions in the fields of water, waste, soil and air.

Among the exhibitors is Flanders, an exhibitor from Belgium. Since Guangdong and Limburg, the province in the eastern part of Flanders, Belgium established sister province relationship in 2015, Guangdong and Belgium have been strengthening ties in economy, education, culture, trade and technology.

“There are lots of fields in which Guangdong and Limburg can work together.”

In October 2019, Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry organized a delegation to Belgium for exchanges in the environmental protection industry and ecological inspections. Also, in the last year, the two sides have started projects with Belgian companies Harsonic and Orbix.

“Although many environmental protection companies in Flanders are start-ups as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, they already have advanced technology and deal with a wide range of industry, including water, air, soil treatment, waste recycling, clean energy and green transportation,” according to Mai Jianbo, Chairman of Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry.

In Mai’s opinion, Guangdong can cooperate with Limburg in the above-mentioned fields. Overall, Limburg has technological advantages and Guangdong has market advantages. “There are broad prospects and space for cooperation in environmental protection industries between the two places,” He said.

“Economic development may bring greater pressure to the environment.”

“Increasing GDP and population pose challenges to the environment, however, since the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released, I think the Guangdong provincial government has played a very good role in environmental protection,” said Zeng Su, Chief Representative of POM Antwerp in China.

The I²PCC Project--a joint project between various Belgian and Chinese provinces-- started on September 1st, 2018, which aims to provide opportunities for Belgian cleantech companies to get in touch with potential partners in China.

“When we are investing in development and establishing our development goals, the requirements for the environment and the plans for macro-environmental governance are also produced.” In the area with over 70 million people and a fast-growing economy, Zeng believes Belgian Cleantech will find great opportunities.

As for future cooperation of the I²PCC project with Guangdong, Flanders will continue to deepen cooperation with Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry based on the framework of Limburg and Guangdong provinces as sister provinces, and serve as a bridge for bilateral enterprise cooperation.

After the epidemic, I²PCC will encourage more Belgian clean technology companies to visit China and conduct projects in Guangdong.

“Guangdong has more days with blue sky and less water and air pollution.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been quite a lot of exports from Guangdong to Flanders on anti-COVID-19 medical products, according to Eva Verstraelen, Economic representative of Flanders.

“Other trades also continue. Guangdong and Flemish jewelry companies are strengthening their cooperation,” she said.

Aside from the already existing sistership between Guangdong and the Flemish province of Limburg that creates a strong bond between both parts, Shenzhen Outbound Alliance has just recently also signed an MoU with Flanders, aiming to promote outbound investment to Belgium.

“Shenzhen is China’s innovation and high-tech center, in which Flanders is very strong as well, so the bilateral cooperation is promising and can only lead to win-win results,” Eva Verstraelen said before adding “Flanders can cooperate with the Greater Bay Area in fields like infrastructure construction, logistics and supply chain services, financial services, commodities and technology trade.”

She is also impressed by the environmental development of Guangdong. “The Guangdong Government has made great efforts to protect the environment, which can already be noticed in the daily life of its residents: there are now more days with blue sky and less water and air pollution.”

Author | Hannah

Editor | Olivia, Jerry