News item | 05-04-2023 | 5:04 PM
Hauts-de-France is only 1.5 hours drive from the Dutch border – 55 kilometers in a direct line. The northern French region is close to home and offers plenty of opportunities for the Dutch business community. From 3 to 5 April, almost 50 companies and knowledge institutions will travel with a trade mission to the region, led by Minister Liesje Schreinemacher for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
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Hauts-de-France is already well known to the Dutch business community. About 150 Dutch companies are located there and for many entrepreneurs the region turned out to be a springboard for the rest of France.
Hauts-de-France traditionally has many textile, energy and steel factories, but is now fully engaged in the transition to a sustainable and digital industry. This offers many opportunities for Dutch companies and knowledge institutions that are active in the automotive, life sciences and health and food tech. The three-day trade mission is therefore all about these sectors.
Automotive: Battery Valley
Hauts-de-France is the center of French car production. The region invests heavily in innovations, sustainability and high-tech materials and produces the most cars in all of France. In the so-called ‘Battery Valley’, three mega-factories for batteries are being built. The batteries for electric cars will be developed, tested and produced in these factories in the coming years.
For participants from the automotive sector, a visit to the Transalley campus in Valenciennes is on the agenda. The entrepreneurs also visit the ACC factory, a mega factory under construction where the batteries of the future will soon be made. Finally, a visit to the car manufacturer Renault in Douai is also on the program.
Life Sciences and Health: Medical Technology
In terms of healthcare, Hauts-de-France is one of the top three regions in France. In the program for the sector life sciences & health the focus is on medical technology for the development and improvement of healthcare. Think, for example, of techniques with which diseases can be detected earlier or treated more effectively.
The participants will visit the campus of the Eurasanté hospital in Lille, the largest university hospital campus in Europe. The participants also talk to companies, local experts and governments about the possibilities in the region and the French laws and regulations in this area.
Foodtech: granary of France
Hauts-de-France is also one of the largest regions in terms of agriculture and is sometimes referred to as ‘the granary of France’. Grains, fruit and vegetables, drinks, sugars and starch products are mainly grown and processed in the region. Several large multinationals, such as Bonduelle, Heinz and McCain, have their French headquarters in Hauts-de-France.
During the trade mission, the emphasis is on systems and materials that contribute to an efficient, innovative and sustainable food processing industry. The participants visit various food processing companies, including Lesaffre, a leading company in yeasts and fermentation techniques. They also visit Ynsect, world market leader in the production of proteins from insects.
Customized program
A tailor-made program has been drawn up for the participants. Through networking events, company visits, trade receptions and informative seminars, the entrepreneurs learn about the latest developments in the various sectors, gain a better insight into possible trade opportunities and make new business contacts.