Belgium trade platform

The Belgian fruit and vegetables sector is launching a new digitalexport platform, as the Federation of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives (VBT), the Logistical Auction Association (LAVA) and Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board (VLAM) seek to bring Belgian suppliers closer to their foreign customers.

With Covid-19 preventing Belgian companies from maintaining and developing contacts at annual fruit and vegetable trade fairs, the Belgian sector decided to develop a joint export platform to enable suppliers to continue to reach their contacts digitally.

Through funds made available by Belgian minister of agriculture Hilde Crevits, VBT, VLAM and LAVA have been able to create a 'flexible and user-friendly' digital export platform.

Over the coming weeks and months, the export platform will feature keynote speeches from internationally renowned experts, who will use their experience to analyse the current changes in the fresh produce sector.

'The greatest asset of the new digital platform is interactivity,' VLAM stated. 'Along with information on Belgian fruit and vegetable growing, visitors can discover the wide range of products on the virtual stages of producer organisations and exporters. Those who are interested can immediately get in touch with the appropriate contact person. In this way, this platform conveniently brings the trade fair experience into everyone’s office or home office, even during corona times.'

The platform is set to be launched with a series of online events starting on 20 April, supported by a digital promotional campaign.