Thanks to its central location at the heart of Europe, its status as both a national and international political capital, and the diversity of its businesses, industries and craftspeople, Brussels has an economy that is open to the world and relies on intense international economic and commercial relations.
According to recent studies, exports account for one third of the wealth created in the Brussels-Capital Region and help generate — directly or indirectly — nearly one in three jobs. This is one of the key findings from the latest data collected by hub.brussels, the Brussels Agency for Business Support, and Perspective.brussels.
Promoting exports and making them accessible to as many businesses as possible not only helps companies grow, but also benefits the Brussels economy as a whole. Indeed, every euro invested in the promotion of foreign trade generates, on average, €172 in additional exports and €396 in added GDP. Exporting is a vital growth engine — particularly for SMEs, which make up more than 99% of Brussels’ economic fabric. Exports are by no means the exclusive domain of large corporations; many small businesses, start-ups and tech scale-ups are also actively contributing.
Through its daily support to businesses, hub.brussels plays an active role in helping Brussels-based companies expand internationally. In 2024, the agency supported 2,449 companies in their internationalisation efforts, through trade missions and international fairs, strategic advice, and a network of 33 Brussels offices abroad.
'International trade is not just an opportunity — it’s a strategic necessity to ensure Brussels’ economic prosperity, resilience and autonomy. What’s more, exporting companies are also more likely to innovate, grow, and create local jobs,' explains Isabelle Grippa, CEO of hub.brussels.
Towards a reform of the export bonus system
The current suspension of export bonuses has paved the way for an in-depth review led by Brussels Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Ans Persoons, in collaboration with hub.brussels, Brussels Economy and Employment, and Beci. A recent working meeting with businesses provided an opportunity to assess on-the-ground needs and share insights on existing export support mechanisms.
'Despite the current suspension of the export bonus system due to budget constraints, we are continuing to work with hub.brussels, BECI, and Brussels Economy and Employment — even in current affairs mode — to best prepare for the upcoming reform of the system. Our aim is to provide all the necessary elements so that the next Government can swiftly decide on the most suitable mechanism to support our companies internationally,' says Ans Persoons, Brussels Secretary of State for Foreign Trade.
The next regional government will indeed be able to draw on these concrete elements — including an evaluation of the current system, feedback from businesses, and recommendations from public administrations — to rethink the scheme and, ultimately, offer support that is better suited to the challenges of internationalisation.
'Brussels Economy and Employment has carried out an evaluation of the export grant system and put forward reform proposals to make the scheme more agile and accessible for Brussels SMEs,” explains Stéphanie Sauvage, Director-General of Brussels Economy and Employment.
