Belgian Foreign Minister Commends Collins Nweke’s Opinion Editorial

At the 3rd Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum on Wednesday 22 October 2025 in Brussels, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Maxime Prévot, delivered a GOODWILL MESSAGE to the delegates. Speaking on his behalf was His Excellency Ambassador Marc Pecsteen, Africa Director, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region. In his message, he singled out an opinion editorial titled From Dependency to Partnership: Belgium’s Geopolitical Recalibration and Africa’s Moment by Senior International Trade Consultant for the Business Forum, Collins Nweke.
The minister’s words:

“Ambassador Leenknegt drew my attention on a recent article by Mr. Collins Nweke – who is here in the room with us, as he is a trusted expert of Belgo-Nigerian trade promotion. In his article Mr. Nweke reflects on the current reshuffle of global supply chains. How can Belgium (Europe) navigate this transition? And what does Nigeria (Africa) have to offer? Well, Nigeria’s emergence as a regional economic hub positions it to anchor Belgian and European value chain diversification efforts. If Europe wants to avoid its current strategic dependency and move towards strategic autonomy – Mr. Nweke argues – then it should develop partnerships in the form of joint investment structures, knowledge transfer and transparent governance.”

[Full text of the Goodwill Message]

Esteemed Governor,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to Brussels!

This is the third edition of this Business Forum and so we may now start calling it a tradition, one that we should maintain and build upon!

I commend the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Belgium Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce for this opportunity to meet each other. Meeting one other is the necessary first step for any fruitful relationship built on trust and fostered by mutual interest. Politics and trade have precisely that in common: at the heart of it, it is about investing in human relationships.

Allow me to congratulate also our ambassador in Abuja, H.E. Pieter Leenknegt, for the tremendous efforts he and his team are making to develop and facilitate bilateral trade relations between our countries, for his active involvement in trade promotion activities alongside with Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) based in Lagos, with the Nigerian commercial authorities at Federal, State and local levels, with sector organizations and locally and internationally oriented chambers of commerce, and with the Belgian business community.

Ambassador Leenknegt drew my attention on a recent article by Mr. Collins Nweke – who is here in the room with us, as he is a trusted expert of Belgo-Nigerian trade promotion. In his article Mr. Nweke reflects on the current reshuffle of global supply chains. How can Belgium (Europe) navigate this transition? And what does Nigeria (Africa) have to offer? Well, Nigeria’s emergence as a regional economic hub positions it to anchor Belgian and European value chain diversification efforts. If Europe wants to avoid its current strategic dependency and move towards strategic autonomy – Mr. Nweke argues – then it should develop partnerships in the form of joint investment structures, knowledge transfer and transparent governance. Because that is where Europe’s technological expertise and its rules- and value-based procedures can offer a solid base for enduring partnerships. Such partnerships are indeed empowering ! Creating mutually beneficial partnerships between Nigeria and Belgium, between Africa and Europe, has the potential and the capacity to redefine the ethics of globalization. I like Mr. Nweke’s vision very much. This new paradigm can reshape trade relationships between Europe and Africa into truly healthy ones!

I suggest you read Mr. Collins Nweke’s article yourself. I highly recommend it. But it is time to wrap up for me. Let me conclude.

In a few weeks from now, Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) and VOKA, the Flemish Business Network, will accompany a substantial trade mission composed of dozens of business leaders to Abuja and Lagos. This occasion will be a catalyst for future bilateral trade relations.

In the week thereafter (16-21 November) the Walloon Export and Investment Agency (AWEX) will host a Nigerian trade delegation in Wallonia.

Do not hesitate to call upon representatives of our trade agencies present here in the room to find out more about these upcoming trade missions.

As you can see, exchanges between Belgium and Nigeria are intense and growing. This is due to the will and initiative of people like yourselves who commit themselves to making that happen.

Advertisements

Enjoy the Forum