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BRANDING 3
[EDIT: Eijsden, August 15]
“Jenever: the gin that doesn’t need a tonic.” & “White asparagus: the variety that makes the rest turn green with envy”. In respect of branding, you need to get your slogans right; and, generally speaking, they need to be in English....[more]
TOP STORIES
[EDIT: Eijsden, August 15]
Among this issue's stories are: the ongoing sell-out of German realty - this time to Goldman Sachs; the initial success of Ford Genk's Titanium S-Max model; Nutrition in the Walloon Marshall Plan - with Detry's planned Omega 3 rich...[more]
Top
GERMAN LAW FROM STRICK
[BIZ/GOV: Cleves, August 14]
Strick’s valuable newsletter on German Law, which we have omitted for a while, remains a valuable source of information. In addition to informing the reader that there are restrictions on how often you can barbecue in your garden...[more]
AMB REALTY TO GOLDMAN SACHS
[BIZ: Aachen / Cologne, August 14]
In a procedure structured by CB Richard Ellis and the Cologne office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, AMB Generali Immobilien GmbH has sold their commercial real estate portfolio to Goldman Sachs OHG & Co.The real estate ...[more]
CITTA PLAZA
[BIZ: Sittard, August 12]
The football stadium in Sittard is scheduled for expansion this month. Città Plaza will be the name given to the addition to the football stadium, a complex with a discotheque, theatre, fitness and wellness facilities, a climbing wall,...[more]
EURES JOB PORTAL
[BIZ/GOV: Brussels, August 11]
With over one million job vacancies and over 100,000 CVs online, the European Job Mobility Portal Eures is a hot tip for all those who are looking for a job. It is free of charge and enables candidates to post their CV and search...[more]
WEERTS WORTH EUR 87M +
[BIZ/LOG: Bachon, August 11]
After the recent takeover of Supertransport, the Weerts Group now has annual revenues of EUR 87,138,000. In the Top 400 of the Belgian transport companies league, it now takes 17th place, just before Gefco Benelux. Weerts is also...[more]
PHILIPS & BG MOLECULAR MED
[BIZ/LIFE-SCI: Eindhoven August 11]
Interesting in connection with the letter of intent signed by Philips Research, Eindhoven, University of Technology (TU/e), Maastricht University and the Academic Hospital Maastricht to found a Centre for Molecular Medicine...[more]
24 APPLICANTS FOR ABX BELGIUM
[BIZ/LOG: Brussels, August 10]
Independent sub-contractors for the ABX Belgium (as opposed to the worldwide operation) taken over by 3iGroup are gathering their forces together for a takeover bid. Together, they have 700 trucks in Belgium to carry out the package...[more]
RWE H1 2006
[BIZ: Düsseldorf, August 10]
RWE’s H1 results show:- Group operating result up 19%
- Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment 19% higher year on year
- Net financial debt of EUR 9.5bn remains at a low level
- Risks from German grid regulation ...[more]
DOC MORRIS OK IN GERMANY
[BIZ: Heerlen, August 9]
The Dutch Internet pharmacy Doc Morris can continue to operate its first German subsidiary. This decision was taken by the state court in Saarbrücken. It dismissed the petition of a Saarbrücken pharmacy to immediately close the Doc Morris...[more]
JLG TAKES ON 30
[BIZ: Maasmechelen, August 9]
JLG Industries Inc. is the world’s leading producer of access equipment, aerial work platforms and tele-handlers, and is going to take on an extra 30 staff at its operation in Maasmechelen. This increase in employment is a direct...[more]
TRIANEL COAL-FIRED
[BIZ/INFRA: Aachen/Lünen, August 9]
On August 5 the city and regional energy companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the Lünen city power company (Stadtwerke Lünen GmbH), members of the Trianel Power Coal-fired Project company (TPK) met as partners....[more]
TITANIUM S-MAX: A TOPPER
[IND: Genk, August 6]
The top-specification, Ford S-Max ‘Titanium’ model, which started production at Ford's Genk plant in April, is receiving plaudits in the motoring press, including warm words from Jeremy Clarkson in the London ‘Sunday Times’. In Europe, ...[more]
OBERBRUCH BUSINESS PARK
[BIZ: Heinsberg, August 5]
During a visit to the Oberbruch Business Park by the Ministry of Science, Small Business and Energy of North-Rhine Westphalia, Mrs Christa Thoben, new initiatives were discussed that include the attraction of new business, now that...[more]
BIO FUEL
[BIZ/SCI-TECH: Wegberg, August 5]
Clyvia Technology produces plants that recover up to 85% of diesel/heating oil from organic waste and exploit these substances for further value creation. With this technology they can produce diesel for under EUR 0.80 per liter....[more]
COOPERATION IN TOURISM
[BIZ/LEI: Hasselt, August 4]
SKåL International Limburg holds two meetings annually to promote cross-border cooperation in the tourist sector. The theme of the meeting held on July 5 was cooperation between the chambers of commerce in Dutch and Belgian Limburg....[more]
ESSENT CABLE TAKE OVER
[BIZ: Amsterdam, August 4]
Warburg Pincus and Cinven are to take over Essent’s Kabelcom (active in the Southern Netherlands) for EUR 2.6bn. They plan to combine Kabelcom, one of The Netherlands largest cable operators, with the smaller competitors Casema and...[more]
LIEGE AND THE TARTARS
[BIZ: Liège, August 4]
The Liège Export Club and the Belgo-Russian Chamber of Commerce are organizing a multi-sector economic mission to the Volga district and the Republic of Tartarstan from October 8 to 14. For information and the opportunity to meet companies...[more]
ABX BELGIUM
[BIZ: Brussels, August 4]
The ABX courier service is attracting the attention of Britain’s Royal Mail, Dutch TNT and Belgian Post (Taxipost). The current owner, the SNCB, Belgian Rail’s, Holding Company, is required to sell ABX Belgium before the end of this...[more]
ABX SOLD AT LAST
[BIZ: Brussels, August 3]
The British investor 3i has taken over the package service of SNCB Belgian Railways. ABX Logistics, the Belgian part of the company, has not been sold. The price for the takeover was EUR 10m for the purchase of shares. This is on top...[more]
AIXTRON H1 2006
[BIZ: Aachen, August 3]
AIXTRON AG, a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, today announced financial results for the first six months of 2006, ended June 30, 2006.-- Equipment Order Intake Up 59% Year Over Year ––
-- ...[more]
LIEGE-US RELATIONS
[BIZ: Liège, August 3]
Since 2000, SPI+, the Liège economic development agency, has utilized the services of an American consulting firm, Global Consulting & Affiliates, to raise the visibility of Liège in the US and to encourage and persuade potential American...[more]
CAR STUNTS IN SIERSDORF
[BIZ/SCI-TECH: Siersdorf, August 3]
Dr. Hans-Achim Ahn, general manager of ACI GmbH at the Emil Mayrisch Industrial Park, has been involved with mining, to some degree, since 1987. As a promoter of industrial development he forced the development of the Technology...[more]
DETRY & SPA IN MARSHALL PLAN
[BIZ: Namur, August 2]
The Walloon government has named four clusters within its Marshall Plan project eligible for substantial government funding. One of the two businesses eligible in the region is fresh meat, charcuterie and salted meat specialist, Detry...[more]
TEMA GROWS BY 18%
[BIZ: Aachen, August 2]
With clients in information processing, automation and pharmacy sectors among others, the Aachen marketing leader Tema AG grew by more than 18% in 2005 and created a dozen new jobs in Aachen, Berlin, Paris and Peking. It has five locations...[more]
ASSES’ MILK
[BIZ/LIFE-SCI: Frasnes, August 2]
The Walloon farm specializing in donkeys in Frasnes, l'Asinerie du Pays des Collines, sells asses’ milk and makes products such as soap, skin creams, beauty masks, pastilles and liquors. The company is the only one that produces...[more]
LIMBURG (B) UNEMPLOYMENT DROP
[BIZ: Hasselt, August 2]
Unemployment in Belgian Limburg fell by 10% in the month of July. This puts the province in the lead in terms of the speed with which employment is falling. This is revealed by data from the Flemish Minister of Employment Frank Vandenbroucke....[more]
FAVINI ENDS RESTRUCTURING
[BIZ: Meerssen, August 2]
The Favini company has released the following statement to the press:At the beginning of July, after a full and proper consultation process with the workforce and its representatives, Favini implemented the restructuring of its...[more]
LIMBURG EXPANDS GOLF LINKS
[BIZ/LEI: Hasselt, August 2]
Belgian Limburg is expanding the number of golf courses in the near future to seven. A new course is to be built in Bree with a start close to the Gerkenberg monastery. The project will also include a hotel, restaurant and 80 houses....[more]
AIM GROWS
[BIZ: Brunssum, August 2]
Advanced Instruments Manufacturing (AIM), which produces innovative medical devices for third parties, has grown from 26 to 42 employees this year. One of the reasons for this success is the rapid innovation applied by AIM through its...[more]
SME COOPERATION
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 2]
As a consequence of technological progress in product development, SMEs are finding it increasingly more important to cooperate. Research shows that in 1998 25% of innovations derived from such cooperative associations; currently...[more]
MAASTRICHT HOUSING COSTS MORE
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 2]
The price of a house in Maastricht has gone up considerably over the past five years. The average price in 2001 was EUR 170,000 and now its EUR 220,000. In South Limburg the most expensive municipality is Margraten with an average...[more]
DSM: Q2 HIGHER MARGINS
[BIZ: Heerlen, August 2]
Operating profit from operations up 11% from Q2 2005 despite a EUR 90m increase in raw material costs and net profit up 18% to EUR 157m. H1 sales up 9% and net profit up 20%. The outlook for the full year 2006 and operating profit is...[more]
EUR 4M FOR LIMBURG HOUSING
[BIZ/GOV: Hasselt, August 2]
The Flemish Minister of Housing Marino Keulen (VLD) has produced EUR 4.1m for the completion of 67 public housing units in Herk-de-Stad, Ham, Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Tongres, Gingelom, Lummen and Beringen. The total cost price for these...[more]
EUR 90M FOR TNT LIEGE DC
[BIZ/LOG: Liège, August 2]
TNT’s Express division is growing so fast that it’s ready to expand, and its central European DC (distribution center) in Liège is to receive EUR 90m to handle the expansion.The growth of the Express division and the ambition of ...[more]
LASER TECHNOLOGY BUDE GROUP
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 2]
The Budé Group in Maastricht conceives, designs and constructs machines and product installations for industries, including automotive, packaging and the food branch, and has been doing so since 1985.
Its new subsidiary, Budé Laser...[more]
S. OLIVER FOR MOSAE FORUM
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 2]
Maastricht newspaper De Ster reports that a flagship s.Oliver store is going to be located in the Mosae Forum, the new shopping area in the center of Maastricht. The shape of the building is already visible downtown and soon the first...[more]
DHL: 630 VACANCIES
[BIZ: Beringe, August 2]
The logistical service provider DHL in Beringe Limburg is looking for new staff to fill 630 vacancies for warehouse personnel and lift truck drivers. The recruitment campaign took place in North and Central Limburg, Belgium and Germany...[more]
SABIC GELSENKIRCHEN HDPE PLANT
[BIZ: Sittard/Geleen, August 2]
SABIC has signed a contract with the German contractor, Uhde, for the construction of a new bimodal HDPE (high density polyethylene) plant at its production site in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The new 250kt/y plant will come on ...[more]
TNT: ROBUST Q2, 2006
[BIZ, Amsterdam/Liège, August 2]
10.7% operating income growth in the second quarter
- Revenue growth in all business segments
- All time record high margin in Express of 10.4%
- Strong 21.2% Mail margin, partially supported by one-off itemsEarnings ...[more]
DELAY ON WALLOON CABLE
[BIZ: Brussels, August 2]
The decision on the sale of eight Walloon cable television companies has been put off until the end of this month. There are still three candidates for a takeover. Telenet and the Luxembourg group Altice came out as the most important...[more]
LIMBURG RECYCLING PARK
[BIZ/INFRA: Beringen, August 2]
The Recycling Park NV company has put a halt to its procedures with its Council of State against the refusal of Beringen to give it an environmental permit to run the recycling operation. The company decided to go for a financial...[more]
AVIAPARTNER GERMAN CONTRACT
[BIZ/LOG: Brussels, August 2]
The Belgian airport service company Aviapartner, which operates at Liège Airport, has signed a contract of cooperation with a number of baggage handling operations at German airports. This will lead to reciprocal services to one...[more]
FORD COMPLETES TEST CENTER
[BIZ/SCI-TECH: Lommel, August 2]
Ford has just completed a EUR 23m program of investment at its test track called the Lommel Proving Ground (LPG) in Belgium. This is not the biggest, but it is the best-equipped test center in the world. On a closed, camouflaged...[more]
OWENS CORNING AND ST GOBAIN
[BIZ: Aachen/Liège, August 2]
Owens Corning and Saint Gobain, which both have locations in Meuse-Rhine, have jointly announced that they are involved in discussions to merge Owens Corning's Reinforcements Business and Saint Gobain's Reinforcement and Composites...[more]
LIEGE MISSION TO PRAGUE
[BIZ/GOV: Liège, August 2]
There is to be a commercial mission to Prague from November 20 to 22 organized by the Liège Export Club and the Walloon Export Agency. The program of individual meetings has been organized by the economic and commercial attaché at...[more]
Top| Logistics and Infrastructure |
EUREGIOBAHN
[LOG: Alsdorf, August 12]
The number of passengers using the Euregiobahn rail line between Alsdorf and Herzogenrath has risen. At the last count, this rose to 13,000 passengers per day, which is 30% more than in January. A further increase is expected when the...[more]
THALYS WI-FI
[LOG: Brussels, August 7]
The Thalys high-speed train will be equipped with wireless internet next year. The wireless internet system will be put out to tender. Thalys started to test this last year; the experiment was rated positively, and all trains will certainly...[more]
WTC TO SPAIN AND ITALY
[LOG: Brussels, August 7]
The Water Container Terminal WTC on the Albert Canal in Meerhout wants in future to send containers to Spain and Italy. This will be made possible because the rail lines are being extended to the terminal.WTC has been existence for ...[more]
FREE BUS TRANSPORT
[LOG/INFRA: Maastricht, August 4]
Although the promised low-priced bus services are still to begin in Maastricht, in Belgium they’ve long been in operation. Those over 65 can travel free on the TEC, with a passport and passport photo its possible to get a lifetime...[more]
LIEGE PASSENGER FIGURES UP 25%
[LOG: Liège, August 2]
The passenger handling figures at Liège Airport showed an increase of 25% in H1 2006 as against last year, being a total of 116,511 passengers....[more]
BUSCH TUNNEL AACHEN
[LOG/INFRA: Aachen, August 2]
Work has started on the Busch Tunnel. A 700-meter tunnel has been excavated on the Belgian side. The concrete is being poured and construction is on time, according to German Rail (Deutsche Bahn). The Busch Tunnel is an important...[more]
WALLOON TOLL
[LOG: Barchon, August 2]
The introduction of a road toll by local government is of concern to the towns and villages of the Walloon area because they think it will push traffic onto secondary roads. The proposed toll would produce EUR 25m in income for the area...[more]
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INTER-NED NEWSLETTER
[GOV: Düsseldorf, August 11]
The North-Rhine Westphalia Dutch Newsletter discusses changes in German law for public insurance as a result of the new budget, which increases VAT from 16 to 19%, (See Strick article too) and also provides for numerous new regulations...[more]
EUR 3M FOR ARCHEOLOGY IN NRW
[GOV: Düsseldorf, August 10]
The state of North-Rhine Westphalia is going to make EUR 3m available for archeology in North-Rhine Westphalia. This means that 410 projects can be promoted, from Stone Age excavations to investigations of medieval city centers....[more]
HERZOGENRATH FIRE SERVICE
[GOV/INFRA: Herzogenrath/Kerkrade, August 10]
Pursuant to the cross-border agreement, the Herzogenrath fire service had to assist the fire service in Parkstad Limburg and Kerkrade in the early hours of the morning recently. In agreement with the Dutch fire service,...[more]
MONSCHAU & VALKENBURG
[GOV: Monschau, August 8]
The city of Monschau in the German section of Meuse-Rhine is planning a partnership with the Dutch city of Valkenburg. Both are tourist centers and want to develop tourist projects together. Monschau’s Mayor Steinröx and his Dutch colleague...[more]
AACHEN INNOVATION PRIZE
[GOV/BIZ: Aachen, August 6]
There is to be a new innovation prize for the City Region of Aachen (agglomeration) and the districts of Düren, Euskirchen and Heinsberg, which they’ll be presenting together with the Aachen Region (as distinct from the urban agglomeration)....[more]
UNIQUE BRONZE BROOCH FIND
[EDU/LEI: Tongres, August 3]
Archeologists from the Tongres project bureau Aron and the Flemish Institute for Historical Buildings (VIOE) have made a number of unique discoveries at excavations along the Alleé Verte, close to the Provincial Gallo-Roman Museum...[more]
SPY IN THE SKY
[GOV: Brussels, August 3]
The Privacy Committee of the Flemish parliament has given the go ahead for the use of satellite pictures to detect infringements of building regulations and zoning regulations. According to the Committee, satellite pictures are not...[more]
AGIT ANNUAL REPORT
[GOV: Aachen, August 2]
AGIT, the Aachen development company, focuses on support and guidance to technology oriented business in Meuse-Rhine. Its principal activities are consulting, international marketing and the development of technology clusters, and the...[more]
MED STUDENTS DOUBLE IN HASSELT
[EDU: Hasselt, August 2]
At the University of Hasselt there is increased enrolment in IT and other sciences. The number of students studying chemistry has been multiplied by a factor of three. Since the Flemish University Council has acknowledged the medical...[more]
FEWER EAST EUROPEAN TRUCKERS
[GOV: Eupen, August 2]
The Minister of Employment in Belgium’s German-speaking region has noted that employment permits for East European drivers in the logistics sector have been strongly reduced from 130 in 2002 to six in this year. The permits are issued...[more]
AACHEN & COLOGNE RESEARCH
[EDU: Aachen, August 2]
The Universities of Aachen and Cologne are to receive 64 of Germany’s 276 major national research projects. This was reported by the Ministry of Research in Düsseldorf without any further information...[more]
EUROREGIONAL NEWSLETTER
[GOV: Brussels, August 2]
The summer edition of the newsletter produced by the Committee of the Regions has come out, and it focuses on the position of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in European policy and the reworked version of the services directive....[more]
LIEGE PARTY CHANGES NAME
[GOV: Fouron, August 2]
The Liège Party in the Fourons Municipal Council, which used to be called 'Retour à Liège' (Return to Liège), has changed its name to “return to liberties”. Its Chairman José Smeets justified the change in name by referring to the one-sided...[more]
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DURBY UP IN HEALTH CARE
[HEALTH: Durbuy August 11]
After a health investigation program lasting two years in the Ardennes municipality of Durby by the Word Health Organization (WHO) the study is to be published under the heading of Public Health in the Countryside. About 1,000 citizens...[more]
HEALTH BOULEVARD
[HEALTH: Heerlen, August 2]
The care group Sevagram and Mondriaan from Brunssum and Kerkrade have started together with the Atrium Medical Center in Heerlen to upgrade their polyclinic/outpatient centers. The project, which represents an investment of EUR 200m,...[more]
HEALTH FORUM
[HEALTH: Aachen, August 2]
The Health Forum (Gesundheits Forum) of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion focuses on cooperation between care institutions in the various countries and the exchange of experience and knowledge. In a magazine issued monthly the forum discusses...[more]
TALKING MEDICATION
[LIFE-SCI: Heerlen, August 2]
TCG Compliers Group, which belongs to the Heerlen businessman Peter Faessen, has developed a communicating magnetic strip on medicines to improve their use for patients. As a result of incorrect usage, particularly among old people,...[more]
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I-CITY WCA SHORT-LISTED
[SCI-TECH: Hasselt, August 4]
i-City, a project designed to convert every potential wireless application on PDAs, laptops, smart phones, etc into workable propositions, has been noticed by players such as Microsoft, Telenet, Siemens, Concentra, Fujitsu-Siemens...[more]
LOW-EMISSION INCINERATION
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 2]
Aachen’s RWTH University will be setting up a new research area in the winter semester. The German research community is to contribute EUR 1.3m annually for basic research into low-emission incineration; this should allow long-term...[more]
OTHER PDA OPTIONS
[SCI-TECH/EDU: Hasselt, August 2]
The I-City projects, with which the University of Hasselt is concerned, was set up to investigate new applications for personal digital assistants, among other things. The research for this is taking place in Hasselt and Louvain....[more]
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EUREGIO COMPACT STOPS
[MEDIA: Susteren, August 13]
The Dutch language Euroregional newsletter (EUREGIO COMPACT) produced by Marcel Boreas is ceasing publication forthwith because of the Editor’s ill health. (euregio-compact@hetnet.nl)...[more]
EAST BELGIAN ARTISTS IN AACHEN
[LEI: Walhorn/Aachen, August 12]
From August 18 through September 3, in the city government building in Aachen on the Katschhof, works from East Belgian artists Inge Sauren and Esther Margraff will be on display. Inge Sauren integrates precious metals with ...[more]
EUROREGION LADIES TOUR 2006
[LEI: Aachen, August 10]
One hundred and fifty professional women cyclists will be starting a Euroregional tour in Aachen. This begins just a few days after the World Equestrian Games, and one day after the pole-vaulting event on the Katschhof. From Thursday,...[more]
EQUESTRIAN ARTS
[LEI: Aachen, August 8]
The World Equestrian Games (WEG) to be held in Aachen this month will have an impressive cultural component with 70 concerts, 240 music and dance events and a very colorful spectacle. There will also be exhibitions and a great more besides...[more]
SUCKING PIG AND STEAM
[LEI: Heinsberg, August 7]
On Sunday, August 27 the Selfkantbahn, a rail line, is changing into a gourmet location. Following its success in previous years there is going to be a trip on the rail line with gourmet provision. The culinary trip leaves at 11.15,...[more]
PREUVENEMINT
[LEI: Maastricht, August 4]
This year the Preuvenemint, Maastricht’s annual gastronomic festival on the Vrijthof in the center of town, will take place from August 24 through 27. See the website for details....[more]
EUR 3.5M FOR NATURE PARK
[LEI: Gangelt, August 2]
Gangelt on the German side of the border and the Dutch partner municipality the Onderbanken have agreed to develop a 700-hectare cross-border nature park project, which will bring them support from the European Union’s Interreg III program...[more]
MEUSE-RHINE ART IN EUPEN
[LEI: Eupen, August 2]
There is an exhibition at the premises of the Grenz Echo Verlag, the German-speaking community’s newspaper in Eupen, including photographs by the Stolberg photographer Bernd Wartwig, headed ‘In The Studio — A Visit to Artists in the Euroregion’....[more]
EURO SIX DAY CYCLING
[LEI: Maastricht, August 2]
The foundation chaired by Jan Hoen has informed the press that the Maastricht Euro Six Day cycling event will take place between September 28 and October 3, 2006. The event will be held in the MECC and ticket sales have already started...[more]
GOURMET TOUR
[LEI: Bütgenbach, August 2]
Following the success of the Gourmet Tour in 2004 and 2005, in 2006 there is to be another culinary tour in Bütgenbach. During this tour gourmets can get to know the local specialties on a walk in the wooded Bütgenbach area. There...[more]
INNOVATIVE MUSEUM
[LEI: Hasselt, August 20]
The Expertise Center for Digital Media, part of the University of Hasselt, is working on the development of the digital guide to the museum. This system, known as ARCHIE, will provide the museum visitor with a personal guide that he...[more]
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