About us

The Italian Initiative Group (GII) is the association representing the Italian community and its diversified interests in Brussels: business, research, innovation, services, food and agriculture. Since 1995, GII thrives to strenghten Italy’s image in the European capital of Brussels through a better coordination of the Italian stakeholders and the establishment of a network of relations with Belgian and European Institutions.

Today GII includes main public institutions and private business associations; major industrial groups, banks and international oriented companies; research centers and universities; regions and local authorities as well as Italian chambers of commerce.

In the latest years, GII has been promoting high-profile meetings with institutional and entrepreneurial spokesmen going through economic and business topics regarding Italy and Europe.

ACTIVITIES

The Italian Initiative Group is responsible for a wide range of activities, each of which aim at strengthening the relations within the Italian business community in Brussels and at promoting the image of Italy in the Belgian capital. In particular, GII aims at:

The improvement of the image of Italy abroad.
A better and more effective coordination of the activities and initiatives promoted by Italian actors (public or private organisations) in Belgium.
Supporting the Italian economic and commercial exchanges both with Belgium and other foreign countries
Becoming a channel of direct communication between its members and the most important representatives of the Italian and international economic and social world.
In particular GII is promoting high-profile meetings with institutional and entrepreneurial spokesmen in order to debate on the most relevant topics regarding economics, finance and all the current events potentially affecting the activities of our member.

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wHY BELGIUM?

Traditionally driven by coal and steel productions, Belgium has been able to fit in the increasing integration of global markets, changing deeply its economy.

Logistics, ICT, biotechnology and renewable energies are indeed the new sectors leading Belgium in the 21st century globalised economy.

These remarkable results are due to Belgium privileged location in the middle of geo-economic Liverpool–Genoa axis, where 65% of Europe’s economic activity is concentrated. This unique asset allowed Belgium to become one of the most important logistic hub in the world, with the City of Antwerp home to Europe’s second largest port.