Our sector experts

Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX)’s sector experts provide day-to-day support to Walloon businesses in their international development. They:

• Work with companies, federations, hubs and clusters to develop international programmes of action, based on sector-specific needs and market opportunities
• Oversee and implement international initiatives (trade fairs, missions, sector-specific projects).
• Support companies abroad during sector-specific missions (networking, identifying needs and opportunities)
• Provide individual support: priority markets, opportunities, risks, international strategy
• Support the search for foreign investors (VC, large companies, financing)
  Identify and support companies with high potential for international expansion

• Support foreign investors wishing to set up in Wallonia (INVEST dossiers)
  Develop and promote Wallonia’s appeal, particularly in strategic sectors (biopharma, digital, e-commerce, logistics)

• Raise awareness and train companies on the opportunities offered by e-commerce and cross-border e-commerce
• Support strategic sectors linked to Wallonia’s priority innovation areas (S3)
• Work in partnership with competitiveness clusters, Walloon and international partners

In summary: Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) sector experts are strategic partners, acting as advisors, project managers and facilitators, working to promote exports, innovation and Wallonia’s economic appeal.

1. Support for Walloon businesses operating internationally

• Joint development of export action programmes tailored to the actual needs of businesses, clusters and federations. Local support during sector-specific missions (networking, opportunities, market risks).
• Support in seeking foreign investors (VC, financing).
• Targeted expertise through specific schemes such as WBDM (design & fashion) and cross-border e-commerce.

2. Attracting and welcoming investment (INVEST)

• Sector-specific ‘business’ expertise to engage effectively with foreign investors.
  Active contribution to INVEST dossiers, in line with the priority sectors of the Walloon S3 strategy.
• Wallonia promoted as an attractive destination (biopharma, digital, cutting-edge sectors).
• Support for foreign start-ups in setting up (soft-landing) and structured monitoring of cases.

3. Alignment with innovation and regional strategy

• Support for sectors linked to Strategic Innovation Domains (SID) and Strategic Innovation Initiatives (SII).
• Integrating the international dimension from the outset of projects by Walloon stakeholders.

In summary: the sectoral department acts as a strategic interface, linking businesses, innovation and investors to simultaneously strengthen Walloon operators’ exports and Wallonia’s long-term appeal.

AWEX’s sectoral experts cover a wide range of themes, aligned with Wallonia’s economic strengths and strategic areas of innovation:

•           Aerospace & Defence: aeronautics, space, drones, defence, AI, cybersecurity
•           AgriFood: food & drink, nutrition, nutraceuticals, agriculture, Agtech & Foodtech
•           Design & Fashion (WBDM): fashion, industrial design, textiles, furniture, social design and food design
•           Digital Economy: digital transformation, smart cities, gaming, cybersecurity, digital services
•           E-commerce: maturity assessment and cross-border e-commerce strategies
•          Greentech: circular economy, renewable energy, sustainable construction, hydrogen, batteries, decarbonisation
•           Life Sciences: biopharma, MedTech, innovative therapies, biomanufacturing, health data
•           Logistics: supply chain, multimodal transport, logistics solutions
•           Mechanical Industry: Industry 5.0, robotics, mechatronics, advanced materials, sustainable mobility
•           Innovation & technological partnerships: soft-landing, start-ups, coordination of the S3 strategy

In summary: this structure enables Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) to offer cutting-edge sector-specific expertise, facilitating dialogue with businesses and investors and strengthening Walloon value chains internationally.