Belgian companies forge partnerships in Brazil during economic mission
During an economic mission in São Paulo on Tuesday, Belgian companies and universities signed approximately 30 contracts with Brazilian partners, covering a wide range of industries.
While staples like beer and chocolate featured prominently, there were also innovative projects such as horizontal windmills and plans for the largest biodiesel site in the world.
Leuven-based SME Turbulent signed a letter of intent to develop hydroelectric power stations on Brazilian rivers with minimal height differences. “Brazil is the Valhalla of hydropower - good for almost half of its electricity production,” said Turbulent CEO Walter Buydens.
However, he noted the challenges of building large dams and the lack of existing technology for low-flow watercourses. Turbulent's innovative solution involves hydroelectric power stations that operate on rivers with height differences of 1.5-5m, using blades "like horizontal watermills" to generate electricity.
The company has already constructed 47 such power stations globally, including one on the Dender river in Belgium, and plans to build 10 to 15 in Brazil by 2025.
Zaventem-based company Desmet signed a contract to build a soybean processing plant in São Paulo state, which will convert soybeans into soy oil, a key ingredient for biodiesel production. The factory, expected to open in March 2026, is part of a larger vision to create “the largest site for biodiesel production in the world”, according to Grupo Potential, Desmet’s Brazilian partner.
Ghent-based Terra Mater also announced an energy-focused collaboration. The company, located in the North Sea Port, plans to produce sustainable aviation fuel using ethanol sourced from Brazil.
The Belgian Chocolate Group from Olen secured a new distributor in Brazil, while Bruges-based brewery De Halve Maan signed a contract to bring beers such as Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik to the southern Brazilian state of Paraná.
University cooperations
The mission also facilitated academic partnerships, with universities such as UAntwerp, UGent, UHasselt and ULB signing cooperation agreements with institutions in São Paulo.
“Such signing sessions are important because they show the first concrete impact of the economic missions,” said Fabienne L’Hoost, director general of the Foreign Trade Agency. Since its inception in 2003, the agency has organised two missions a year and expects to reach the milestone of 1,000 signed contracts next year. Upcoming missions are planned for India in March and California in October.
L'Hoost estimates that for every contract signed in Brazil, five to 10 more will be signed in the medium term after the companies return to Belgium.
Accompanied by Princess Astrid, the 170-strong Belgian delegation will continue its economic mission in Rio de Janeiro following four days in São Paulo.
#FlandersNewsService | Tarcisio de Freitas, governor of the State of Sao Paulo, and Princess Astrid of Belgium on the fourth day of an economic mission to Brazil © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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