BUSINESS

The Kingdom of Belgium

Is in Full Transition

to a Growing Carbon

Economy

H.E. Mr. Grégoire Nicolas Cuvelier was born in Jurbise (Belgium)

on 13 March 1961 and studied at the University of Louvain-laNeuve. He was awarded a Master’s degree in Philosophy as well

as in the Arabic language and Islamic Sciences. He has been the

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Czech Republic

since September 2019. He is married and has four adult children.

What are the strengths of the MoravianSilesian Region from your point of view?

The strengths of the region are its great

industrial and entrepreneurial tradition,

combined with a highly qualified

workforce, a talent for innovation, and

an advantageous location, close to other

industrial regions in Poland and Slovakia.

Do you see potential here that should be

exploited?

Yes, in particular with a country like

Belgium. Several Belgian regions went

through the same transitions as MoraviaSilesia, from coal and metallurgy to

different spin-off industries. And now,

Moravia-Silesia and these Belgian regions

are fully engaged in their transition to the

Industry 4.0, and a low-carbon economy.

Moravia-Silesia and Belgium can certainly

cooperate in these areas. I note also that

Moravia-Silesia has strongly developed

its transport systems with its international

airport, important electrified railways, and

also good highway connections. Further

development of multimodality is certainly

an asset for Moravia-Silesia, especially with

regards to Belgium, which developed one

of the densest transportation networks in

the world.

Have you recently joined any projects at

MSK?

The Ostrava Multimodal Park is the last

major project joined by a Belgian company,

the Port of Antwerp. Besides this important

project, Belgian companies present in

the region are flourishing like Bekaert in

Petrovice, an important metal processing

company, Vyncke in Frýdek-Místek,

specialist of ‘waste-to-energy solutions,’

which received several awards at the last

Czech Industry Challenge, or Stow Group,

a specialist of shelving systems.

How different is the Czech republic

compared with your home?

In fact, the two countries have a lot in

common, but if I had to single out one

difference, it would be the economy - it is

more dynamic in Czechia, because it is still

in a catching-up process, which offers a great

potential for foreign investors.

Czechs love the so-colled steak tartare,

in Belgium known as Filet Américain.

Have you tasted this delicacy in the Czech

Republic?

Yes, but I prefer the fried cheese, which is

a hearty dish but also a delicacy.

Mr Ambassador, thank you for the interview.

Text: redakce

Foto: archiv

Grégoire Nicolas Cuvelier

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