Toespraak van Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses Astrid ter gelegenheid van de Belgische Economische Missie aan de Westkust

Ladies and Gentlemen,

All around the world, doing business has become more challenging in the United States, in Europe, and in Belgium alike.

Yet, our country has long enjoyed excellent ties with the USA, rooted in history and, sincethe Second World War, strengthened by trade, investment, and research.

On both sides of the Atlantic and especially here on the West Coast, we have been fortunateto benefit from the vision and dedication of researchers, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who built this strong bilateral cooperation.

For more than twelve years, I have had the privilege of leading major Belgian delegations
across the globe.

This is already my third visit to your country : to Texas in 2016, to Atlanta, Boston, and NewYork in 2022, and now to California, the state where my brother, His Majesty the King, carried out his last mission before ascending the throne.

We are deeply committed to maintaining, and indeed further strengthening, our presence here.

Belgium, home to both the European Commission and NATO, has much to offer, and we are eager to bring valuable assets to the other side of the globe, particularly here in California.

But to succeed in these economic missions, we must give nothing less than our very best. Without the support of Belgian ministers, business leaders, academics, and each and every participant, our efforts would simply not be possible.

Together with over 500 participants in this Economic Mission, we come with a clear ambition : to deepen dialogue with California, and to commit ourselves further, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and business, regardless of political developments.

California is the world’s fourth-largest economy. Within the EU, Belgium ranks as the fourth-largest export market for the Golden State. Today, 123 Belgian companies are established here, employing between 4,000 and 5,000 people.

Among them, by way of examples, are IMEC, Proximus, Odoo, Lotus Bakeries, Solvay, Dries Van Noten, Barco and many others of course. The ports of Antwerp and Los Angeles together account for nearly one-third of global container trade. The key sectors represented in this mission are climate and sustainable energy, innovation, defense, aerospace, digital technology, life sciences, and the entertainment industry.

Belgian companies invest here in California, just as American and Californian companies invest in Belgium. For instance, Odoo, a Belgian unicorn in digital consulting, is heavily expanding on the West Coast. Meanwhile, global players like Microsoft are investing substantially in Belgium, creating thousands of jobs.

This balanced relationship illustrates the profoundness of our mutual ties. We must continue to meet and meet again, even if it means crossing 8.940 kilometers. And nothing makes that possible like airplanes. So, would I be too bold if I suggested establishing direct flights between San Francisco and Brussels ? After all, a similar request recently resulted in an additional direct flight between Tokyo and Brussels !

California is not only an economic powerhouse; it has always fascinated young people from around the globe. It shapes modernity, in culture, in technology, in lifestyle. Belgium, Europe, and California also share much in common : our economies and societies are rooted in innovation, sustainability, and inclusiveness. Our partnership goes far beyond business.
Sport, for instance, unites our people.

From cycling to football to basketball, Belgian athletes have competed here in California,and Californians have drawn inspiration from Belgian sporting traditions. In San Francisco, our ties are especially visible in the thriving biotech and digital innovation ecosystems, where Belgian companies and researchers collaborate closely with their Californian counterparts.

One-quarter of Belgium’s exports are high-end biotech. Our universities are deeply engaged in medical research and innovation. As Professor Koenraad Debackere of KU Leuven once said : “We never close doors for science, investment, and entrepreneurship.”

We admire your openness, and we welcome every opportunity to learn from the best and, in
doing so, become better ourselves. In Los Angeles, the link is equally strong in entertainment and the creative industries. Belgian designers, artists, and audiovisual companies are active in the global capital of storytelling.

We will visit the "Infinity Festival", which combines AI and live performance to shape the future of immersive media, an area where Belgium can contribute meaningfully. Unfortunately, California also knows hardship : wildfires, storms, and social challenges have
affected many families here.

But we have seen resilience and courage at work. Californians prove the old proverb true: : “Adversity breeds opportunity.” In a wider sense, this resilience is precisely what our companies are demonstrating in Belgium as well as here in California.

Ladies and gentlemen, We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality and generous welcome we receive since our arrival.

Our heartfelt thanks go especially to you, Mr. Mayor. You have so kindly given us your time here at City Hall, and I am immensely grateful and truly impressed.

May I now invite the members of the mission and all our guests to join me in offering the Mayor a warm round of applause.

This Economic Mission allows us to reaffirm the ideals and values we share, and the bonds of affection that unite our peoples.
Without these, the formalities of alliances would mean little. So, let me raise my glass, to friendship between our States, to the people of California, and to the people of the United States of America.