130 major companies in Borouge are sounding the alarm and urgently requesting more space to do their business

Bruges – sort of Open letter 130 companies from the Bruges region, in cooperation with Voka West Flanders, are demanding more space to do business. The writing leaves no room for speculation, the message is clear and relevant. “It's not five to twelve, it's actually five to twelve,” says Borouge Regional President Xavier Vanesti (pictured right) and CEO Dieter Kosi. “Not a single hectare of activity has been added for many decades.”

What would a country, region or municipality be without entrepreneurs and companies? The 130 businessmen in Bruges say it clearly. “As entrepreneurs, we create jobs and add value, thus contributing to the prosperity and well-being of our community every day,” is the clear message. “However, there is more than just this economic aspect. Businesses bring people together, people learn new things, innovative products and services are made, researchers develop things to make people's lives easier, etc. The impact of businesses on society is therefore much broader than just Creating jobs or contributing significantly to the country's GDP. Businesses form an indispensable link, at the Belgian, Flemish and local levels.

Corporations create prosperity and much more

Therefore, the ambition must be for companies to be able to continue to grow and prosper, so that their social role continues. But there is a big but. This growth is under pressure.

“And for once we are not talking about the difficult search for new employees, the high tax burden or the nitrogen problem,” the open letter continues. “It's about something else that's just as important: there's really no room for us. No room. No more space in the industrial zones. Let alone adding new industrial zones, which we desperately need. Without the industrial zones there wouldn't be There are companies, and without companies there would be no jobs and no pensions.

Borouge's 130 companies belong to various sectors of the economic fabric. “Unlike some
“Beyond the clichés about tourism and restaurants, we have a very diverse and dynamic economic fabric,” the letter’s authors say. “From large multinational companies to local SMEs, from technology start-ups to well-known names in the food sector,
Manufacturing or service companies. And then we didn't even talk about the port of Zeebrugge, which is very beautiful
Which generates marine and other activities.”

Five and twelve

The open letter ends with an alarm bell ringing. “It's already 5:30 here,” said Xavier Vanesti, president of the Foca Regional Board of Directors. “West Flanders is the province where the need for new industrial areas is greatest throughout Flanders. In West Flanders, the greatest demand is in the area around Bruges. A few years ago, the government calculated that in the economic sub-area of ​​Bruges, 143 hectares were needed Of the new industrial areas. There is not as much need anywhere else. But over many decades, not a single hectare of activity has been added. However, we can say, in all honesty, that this need today is still of the same magnitude.. A fragile bright spot: the West Flemish has recently begun
The provincial government is once again launching a planning initiative seeking sites for a maximum of 61 hectares of industrial areas in our region. It is urgent that this initiative ends successfully this time. There is no longer any vacant land available here for a company wanting to build or expand. Not to mention, an outside company might want to establish itself here, whatever. Return to sender. kerdekiwir“.

Bruges la morte?

The message continues: “It's a drama.” “Young entrepreneurs who want to build a company cannot establish themselves here, while existing family businesses or multinational companies have the greatest difficulty in developing further. Of course we are open to higher and more compact construction, sustainable and innovative construction concepts, but must The land must be there first.”
A new Club Brugge stadium is now under construction, and up to 20 stadiums are also planned at Cercle Brugge.
hectares for their new stadium, the entrepreneurs finally concluded. “Nature is also unforgettable: no less than 172 hectares of nature and forests have been added in Bruges in recent years,” the open letter continues. “But nothing concrete has been achieved regarding industrial parks all these years. We therefore demand a more balanced policy where there is room for companies that want to establish themselves here or that want to grow. Dear politicians, at any level of government, “The time has come.” To work on it. You are playing with the prosperity of our region. In fact, the entire West Flanders region is thriving because our fellow entrepreneurs in the rest of the province are facing the same problems. Ensuring a balance between nature and activity means not only more forests and reclaims, but also more space to do business. We are already seeing many West Flemish companies moving to other provinces and northern France. So, we must put an end to this mass migration and ensure that we continue to do so in the future
To continue making our contribution to the social good. No one is waiting for the re-release
From “Brugge la Morte”, right?