toespraken

16 May 2018

Toespraak bij de viering van het 10-jarig bestaan van Energetic Lighting

Dear Mr Guo (verantwoordelijke ambassade)

Dear Mr. Yang

Ladies and gentlemen

Welcome everybody

As vice-governor responsible for economics, agriculture, innovation and international partnerships of the Province of Antwerp, I am very pleased to participate in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Energetic Lighting in our province and the opening of their new plant. 

I was informed that, since the start of Electric Lighting in neighboring Aartselaar now 10 years ago, your company has known a steady growth. This cannot be called a wonder, as your innovative and energy-saving lighting is very much a product of the future, where sustainability and clean technology are mainstream. 

This pioneering spirit of Electric Lighting is something we feel very close to. When we look back to the 1980’s and the then starting development of China, two companies of our province, the Antwerp Bell company (later Bell Alcatel) and Janssen Pharmaceutica from Turnhout took the risk and started a joint-venture in China. Both ventures became very successful, and now everybody in China knows Shanghai Bell and Xi’an Janssen. Moreover, it was upon the initiative of Dr. Paul Janssen (from Janssen Pharmaceutica), that our province established a sister-province relation with the province of Shaanxi in China, now 33 years ago.  

Therefore, Mr. Yang, I think you took the right decision to set up your plant and concentrate your production in Kontich, in Flanders. Our strategic position in Europe, good infrastructure (? Files??) and multi-lingual personnel are assets that do surely give you a comparative advantage on the European market.

I wish you all the success with your company!