Gateway2Britain to give UK smooth trade route into Flanders
Flanders is introducing a digital application called Gateway²Britain. The goal? To make trade between Flanders and the UK as frictionless as possible. The partnership behind this initiative includes Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, in close cooperation with the Belgian Customs authorities.
The need for streamlined processes
The UK and Flanders are close, longstanding trading partners, with figures from 2022 revealing that exports from the UK to Flanders totaled EUR 33.77 billion, while imports into the UK from Flanders reached EUR 27.95 billion. A recent survey conducted among 1,000+ British traders revealed significant new insights:
- Around 74% of British companies felt compelled to explore alternative markets due to post-Brexit bureaucracy.
- Nearly half of the respondents (48%) stated they would engage in more trade if the process were simplified.
- Over two in five (42%) reported a decrease in trade with the EU since Brexit.
Conducted by Flanders Investment & Trade and Censuswide, the research underscores the need for streamlined trade processes. That’s where Gateway²Britain comes in.
Reducing bureaucracy
Set to be available by the end of 2023, the Gateway²Britain application will allow traders to fill out a single dataset online. This dataset will then be automatically shared with all relevant supply chain and logistics partners, streamlining the trade process.
The UK is an important trading partner for Flanders. Our research shows that British companies have been looking at alternative markets due to increasing bureaucracy since Brexit. Gateway²Britain signals the end of that bureaucracy, simplifying trade processes while meeting all the demands of the new rules.
Providing a frictionless route into the EU
Flanders serves as a popular route for British companies to access the EU due to the region’s proximity to the UK and major European business centers. What’s more, Flanders’ strategic location and infrastructure enable companies to reach 400 million consumers within 6 hours, unlocking 60% of Europe’s purchasing power.
Flanders is a key route in and out of the EU for British traders. This means that if Gateway²Britain solves the challenges of Brexit in Flanders, supply issues that have affected the UK should also be solved.
Gateway²Britain is poised to further strengthen Flanders’ position as an attractive route into the EU, as around 90% of British goods imported into Flanders are processed and re-exported. Notably, no other EU region or country has yet implemented a comparable, all-encompassing system to mitigate the challenges arising from Brexit.
Reported by
Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT)
