Advisory 48: Win-win cooperation with African growth countries through innovation

African growth countries combine a rapidly growing and young population, rising economic growth and significant social needs, making them both promising markets and partners for innovation and development for Flanders. Strengthened cooperation can lead to a clear win-win situation: economic added value for Flemish companies and social and institutional progress in African countries. The role of Flemish knowledge institutions here lies, amongst other things, in building local ecosystems and networks.

Flemish companies in African growth countries often still face real and perceived risks (including political instability and corruption). Furthermore, the Flemish presence in Africa is fragmented. Companies, knowledge institutions and public authorities often operate in parallel, with limited coordination and without an overarching vision. As a result, opportunities remain underutilised at present.

To address these challenges and capitalise on the opportunities, VARIO sets out six recommendations addressed to the Flemish Government:

1. Invest in a strategic presence in and knowledge of African growth countries.
2. Develop an overarching government vision and strategy with concrete objectives and clear country and sector priorities.
3. Combine Flemish, federal, and private efforts in a strong “Team Belgium” and thereby strengthen our position towards the EU’s Global Gateway and other international projects.
4. Strengthen Flemish access to multilateral organizations and international tenders.
5. Stimulate the commercialization of Flemish innovations in Africa, optimizing the existing Flemish and federal instruments.
6. Further invest, in line with mutual interests, in African talent and in cooperation in research and development.

These recommendations call for an integrated, strategic and forward-looking approach, aligned with both federal policy and EU policy. Only in this way can Flanders strengthen its position on a continent that is becoming increasingly crucial for growth, innovation and geopolitical influence.