Vlaams Economisch Verbond
Encyclopedia
The Vlaams Economisch Verbond or VEV is a Flemish
employers' organization
and lobbying group. It was founded in 1908, by among others Lieven Gevaert
as the Vlaamsch Handelsverbond, to create a Flemish counterpart of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises
, and it became the VEV in 1926.
The main objectives of the organization were the development of the Flemish economy and the to improve the status of Flemish as a business language in Flanders. It is an important partner of the Flemish government
on business in Flanders, and also participates in the Socio-economic Council of Flanders.
In 2004, VEV formed an alliance with the Flemish Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI’s) to create ‘Voka’. Today, there are still eight Voka - Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) in Flanders (West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp-Waasland, Kempen, Mechelen, Halle-Vilvoorde, Leuven and Limburg). Together with the VEV, these eight CCI’s form the ‘Voka-Alliance’, the largest Flemish network of enterprises.
The main objective of the organization is to be the closest, most influential and most professional network of entrepreneurs and the representative organisation for companies in Flanders. Voka wishes to create an optimum framework for successful enterprise and thus seeks to make a fundamental contribution to its region’s welfare and wellbeing. It is an important partner of the Flemish government on business in Flanders, and also participates in the Socio-economic Council of Flanders.
This ‘Voka-Alliance’ unites more than 17 000 businesses from all sectors within the Flemish region
. The alliance is politically independent; there is no structural funding from government. It is a non-profit organisation: small, medium and large-sized companies of all sectors everywhere in Flanders can become member on a voluntary basis. Our members represent 64% of the employment and 65% of the added value in Flanders.
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
employers' organization
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
and lobbying group. It was founded in 1908, by among others Lieven Gevaert
Lieven Gevaert
Lieven Gevaert was a Flemish industrialist. His father died when he was only three years old. He started his career in the company he founded together with his mother in 1889, which produced photographic paper according to traditional methods...
as the Vlaamsch Handelsverbond, to create a Flemish counterpart of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises
Federation of Belgian Enterprises
The Federation of Enterprises in Belgium is the only Belgian non-profit organization representing companies in all three regions of Belgium. Its members, the different Belgian sectorial employers' organizations, represent companies in key industrial and service sectors. All in all, it represents...
, and it became the VEV in 1926.
The main objectives of the organization were the development of the Flemish economy and the to improve the status of Flemish as a business language in Flanders. It is an important partner of the Flemish government
Flemish government
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
on business in Flanders, and also participates in the Socio-economic Council of Flanders.
In 2004, VEV formed an alliance with the Flemish Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI’s) to create ‘Voka’. Today, there are still eight Voka - Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) in Flanders (West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp-Waasland, Kempen, Mechelen, Halle-Vilvoorde, Leuven and Limburg). Together with the VEV, these eight CCI’s form the ‘Voka-Alliance’, the largest Flemish network of enterprises.
The main objective of the organization is to be the closest, most influential and most professional network of entrepreneurs and the representative organisation for companies in Flanders. Voka wishes to create an optimum framework for successful enterprise and thus seeks to make a fundamental contribution to its region’s welfare and wellbeing. It is an important partner of the Flemish government on business in Flanders, and also participates in the Socio-economic Council of Flanders.
This ‘Voka-Alliance’ unites more than 17 000 businesses from all sectors within the Flemish region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
. The alliance is politically independent; there is no structural funding from government. It is a non-profit organisation: small, medium and large-sized companies of all sectors everywhere in Flanders can become member on a voluntary basis. Our members represent 64% of the employment and 65% of the added value in Flanders.
See also
- Brussels Enterprises Commerce and IndustryBrussels Enterprises Commerce and IndustryThe Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry organization is a non profit organization representing companies of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. Its members, the different Brussels enterprises, represent companies in key industrial and service sectors...
(BECI) - Walloon Union of Companies
- Economy of BelgiumEconomy of BelgiumThe modern, private enterprise economy of Belgium has capitalised on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base...
- AgoriaAgoriaAgoria is Belgium's largest employers' organisation and trade association. The companies represented by Agoria are active in 13 branches of the technology industry: aerospace, automotive, construction products, contracting & maintenance, electrical engineering, industrial automation, ICT,...
- Flanders Investment and TradeFlanders Investment and TradeThe Flanders Investment and Trade was founded by the Flemish government in 2005. The FIT agency helps both Flemish companies with expanding their business abroad as well as to assist foreign companies sourcing Flemish suppliers of quality goods and services. The FIT agency is headed by Christ’l...
(FIT) - UNIZOUNIZOUNIZO is a Belgian organization of Self-Employed and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises ; it is mainly situated in the Flemish region of the Kingdom of Belgium. UNIZO wants to give SMEs a voice from the local up to the European level...
- De Warande (Club)De Warande (Club)De Warande is a Flemish business club, located in Brussels, Belgium. The club was founded in Brussels in 1988, by Flemish businesspeople and the Flemish government. The club wants to bring together distinguished and representative personalities from the Flemish business community...