Support for setting up outside the EU

The company submits its grant application by completing the online form available via its client zone, prior to opening or setting up, with the following in attachment:

1. a description of the company’s initiative;
2. a presentation of the range of products and/or services in question;
3. the CV and employment contract of the representation office manager;
4. a copy of the lease agreement for the premises;
5. a provisional budget setting out an estimated amount for each category of eligible costs;
6. the company’s sworn declaration – De Minimis Aid;
7. a breakdown of office costs shared between SMEs in the case of a shared office;
8. the latest balance sheets and income statements, unless these are officially published;
9. any documents deemed useful in support of the application

The sum of the applicant’s equity and long-term debt must be higher than the projected budget for the initiative to set up abroad.
The company must not have had a permanent structure in the target country for at least three years.

Practical information

The grant application can only be processed if the form is complete and accompanied by the required annexes.

It is reiterated that every beneficiary undertakes to reimburse Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) for any part of the grant received that exceeds the amount justified by the accepted supporting documents.

The beneficiary company is required to inform Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and seek its prior approval for any changes to the initiative.

This is a ‘De Minimis’ aid measure within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EU) No 2023/2831 of 13 December 2023.

For applications for incentives that have been approved for a grant, the procedure is simplified, in accordance with the principle of trust.

The application for payment of the balance of the grant awarded must be submitted by the company no later than 15 months after the date of notification of the grant, by sending the following duly completed documents to Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX):

• a statement of eligible costs incurred;
• a statement of claim;
• a business report on the results of the initiative, quantifying the impact of the grant on the growth in export turnover and the number of FTEs in the company;
• detailed invoices relating to the subsidised initiative issued in the applicant’s name;
• bank statements or credit card statements confirming payment of the invoices by the recipient of the grant.