At the Belgian Industry Day, which brought together administrations and companies active in the Defence sector, the Ministers called for investments in Defence to benefit Belgian companies.
According to Minister David Clarinval: “Belgium has innovative, specialised SMEs and companies with high-level technological know-how. We are therefore strengthening cooperation between Defence, the FPS Economy, the Regions and businesses, to better connect these skills with Defence’s needs.”
Minister Simonet particularly insisted that SMEs be included in the process: “Our objective is simple: SMEs should no longer be called in as reinforcements when there’s a spot left, but should be integrated from the outset into the industrial architecture. That’s what we want to build: a genuine return for society, in Belgium and in Europe. When a country makes such an effort, it has the right to see some of it come back. Growth. Jobs. Innovation. Skills. And strengthened industrial capacity.”