BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
EMPLOYERS' ROAD SHOW
[BIZ: Hasselt, April 26]
VKW, the Belgian Limburg Employers'
Association, is organizing a road show in Limburg. They visit companies that are
members of their organization to hear from business leaders what they expect of the VKW
organization. So far, they have visited Friesland Madibic Food Service to learn about
marketing ice cream and milk shakes; then came Vasco, the European market leader in
bathroom radiators; most recently they called on Terberg Specials in Genk to see how
delivery vans can be transformed in refrigerated delivery vans. The last visit in the
series will be to Profel in Overpelt on May 8 when they will discuss the role of the VKW
in the region.
http://www.vkw-limburg.be
NATIONAL CASH IN MAASTRICHT
[BIZ:Maastricht, April 26]
The US NCR, National Cash Register Corporation, is to build
a new distribution center in Maastricht. NCR supplies cash dispensers, scanning systems
for shops, warehouses and the related computer systems. Maastricht will ship spare parts
to Europe and South Africa. The new location will employ staff currently working in
Heerlen and Sittard. Operations in Germany and Britain will also relocate there and the
company should be employing 220 within a period of five years. The new NCR building in
Maastricht will be equipped with the latest pick and pack warehousing systems.
http://www.ncr.com
SUBCONTRACTING IN LIEGE
[BIZ:Liège, April 25]
A two day metal and plastics subcontracting fair will be
held at the Halles des Foires in Liège on Monday May 15, followed by a day in Antwerp May
17. The Liège session meeting will focus on the Walloon Region and Northern France,
targeting MDs, production managers and product designers.
http://www.subcontracting.be
FRESH PAINT
[IND: Born, April 18]
NedCar President, Chris Dewulf recently opened a new paint
line at the company's Born plant, representing a EUR 36.3m investment. The new line
improves waste disposal and reduces emissions. Even in the case of an increase in
production there is no increase in noise. The system can also run 18 different colours in
an arbitrary order, including most standard and metallic paints. It can also be given a
clear coating required for US exports.
http://www.nedcar.nl
NO PAY
[BIZ: Zuerich, April 11]
Ultradocs passes on the news that PayNet service which has
enabled Electronic Bill
Presentment and Payment (EBPP) for around two years is to
be terminated within the next few months. It has not been possible to find international
alliance partners or achieve the business volumes needed for swift expansion.
http://www.telekurs.com/medien
http://www.ultradocs.com
EU MONEY
[BIZ: Aachen, April 10]
A new consultancy network on EU subsidies has been
established for Meuse-Rhine. The web site offers extensive information and targets public
institutions and other interested parties. The internet presentation is designed to
increase the transparency of the network in the region and to speed the flow of
information. Examples are also given of successful regional projects. The site is run by
AGIT, the Aachen Development Company in cooperation with LIOF, the Limburg Development
Company in Maastricht and the East Belgium Development Company WFG in Eupen in the context
of an INTERREG-ll-Project. Information via e-mail: c.kraus@agit.
http://www.eu-money.org
http://www.agit.de
http://www.liof.nl
http://www.wfg.be
http://www.dglive.be/chapter04/4-5-6.html
VOLVO PAY-OFF
[IND: Born, April 6]
The Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, paid EUR 149m for
Volvo's 50 per cent share in the NedCar plant in Born. This gives Mitsubishi an 85 per
cent share in NedCar. Fifteen per cent is in the hands of Mitsubishi's European investment
fund. Fifty per cent of these NedCar shares will be sold on to DaimlerChrysler. Volvo Car
is also going to sell its 3.3 per cent share in Mitsubishi to DaimlerChrysler; giving the
latter a 37.3 per cent share in Mitsubishi and an increased grip on the Japanese
corporation
http://www.ld.nl
LOGISTICS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
EU TO BLOCK IRON RHINE
[INFRA: Brussels, April 26]
Just when things had seemed to be quietening down and Dutch
and Belgian authorities had agreed to reactivate the Iron Rhine (the Belgo-German
trans-Limburg rail link), the EU has thrown a spanner in the works. EU Commissioner Loyola
de Palacio, in an answer to questions in the European Parliament, stated that no decision
on the Iron Rhine could be taken until the countries involved had presented cost and
benefit analysis and also made a report on the environmental impact of the project. It is
interesting to reflect that both Spanish attempts to link the Scheldt and the Rhine,
dating from 1626, in the form of the Fossa Eugenia and the proposal, dating from 1803, to
link Antwerp and the Rhine decreed by Napoleon had trouble getting off the ground.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
POLICE SIGN AGREEMENT
[INFRA: Aachen, April 26]
Aachen Police Chief Heinrich Boenninghaus and Deputy South
Limburg Police Chief Walter van Haaren signed an international agreement on law and order
at the Abbey of Rolduc in Kerkrade on Thursday April 25. A stronger police presence using
joint patrols and flexible shifts will allow the police to deal with vandalism, graffiti
and criminal groups. There is particular concern about gangs of burglars who operate at
the Euroregional level.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
http://www9.regioblick.de
ENERGY COMPANIES MERGE
[INFRA: Cologne, April 25]
A regional energy service provider in the Cologne/Bonn
economic area is taking shape. The company will be known as GEW Rheinland AG, a merger
between GEW Koeln AG and RWE Plug AG. RWE Gas is already number 2 in Germany. GEW
Rheinland AG will be aiming for annual sales of EUR 1.2bn.
http://www.rwe.com
LIEGE CHAMBER INTO LOGISTICS
[BIZ: Liège, April 24]
The Belgian Association for Procurement and Logistics
Management (ABCAL) organizes one major annual meeting. This year, the 600-strong
association whose members come principally from Brussels and the Walloon region spent a
day on the key role of procurement and logistics in the third millenium.The meeting was
held in cooperation with the Liège Chamber of Commerce. Chaired by Gordon Crichton,
Director of the Institute of Management and of Industrial Procurement in Bordeaux, with
Sophie Meura, Solvay's International Procurement Manager and others, sessions focused on
the reorganization of procurement and logistics. Representatives of Holderbank, Dell,
Schreder and Baxter Europe covered a range of topics, including the internet role in
reducing the procurement cycle, the evolution of the procurement function and ISO
certification.
http://www.ccilg.be
ERICSSON UMTS NETWORK FOR LIBERTEL
[INFRA: Maastricht, April 24]
Dagblad De Limburger reports that Maastricht-based telco
Libertel has signed a contract with Ericsson for the set up of its UMTS network to provide
rapid mobile internet services. The contract is worth EUR 22.69m. The network will be
available in heaviliy populated areas around Schiphol Airport, the Dutch Randstad
conurbation of Amsterdam/The Hague/Rotterdam, etc. and near railway stations. The national
UMTS network will be rolled out over the coming years and must have national coverage by
2007. Libertel paid EUR 770.67m for its UMTS frequency last year.
http://www.limburger.nl
http://www.libertel.nl
http://www.ericsson.com
PASSENGER NUMBERS UP AT MAA
[INFRA: Maastricht, April 24]
A total of 460,000 passengers passed through Maastricht
Aachen Airport in the year 2000, this is up 12 per cent on 1999.
http://www.maa.nl
EMPLOYERS DEMAND NEW ROADS
[INFRA: Maastricht, April 24]
The Euroregional Employers Trust (SWE) has made an urgent
appeal to the Ministers of Transport in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands to improve
the transport infrastructure between both provinces of Limburg and North-Rhine Westphalia.
J.Nijhuis, President of the Limburg Employers Association (LWV) has said that, although
the highway infrastructure is a matter for the national government, business is prepared
to pay too. The total sum involved is expected to be EUR 1.02bn for the Euroregion as a
whole. The amount needed in Limburg would be EUR 726m and a further EUR 273m to widen the
A4 between Aachen and Cologne from four to six lanes. The business community in the Aachen
region does not want to wait for the federal government and is also prepared to pay.
Flanders has approval to turn the Hasselt-Eindhoven route into a highway, but there must
be an extension on the Dutch side to make this worthwhile.
http://www.limburger.nl
EUROREGIONAL RAIL IMPROVEMENTS
[INFRA: Roermond, April 24]
The Dutch Railways is prepared to invest several millions
in the improvement of transfrontier local rail connections, according to the Aachener
Zeitung. Spokesman Mr Esser announced extensive plans for Euroregional trains and express
buses in the region. With the support of The Hague and the Province, new style local
transportation can start in 2003, though of course the decision is needed first. The new
proposal should provide rapid connections between Aachen, Liège, Maastricht, Heerlen and
Sittard. The Dutch will focus first on optimal bus and rail connections with the Aachen
region and subsequently with Liège. An assessment of the current situation will be made
as quickly as possible with the German Railways. Proposals include a direct connection
between Sittard and Aachen and between Herzogenrath and Maastricht and later between
Maastricht, Liège and Aachen.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
http://www.limburger.nl
NEW TERMINAL FOR LIEGE AIRPORT
[INFRA: Liège, April 21]
Liège Airport will be building a new terminal to handle up
to a million passengers annually. Last year, 200,000 passed through the airport. The new
building,
all in glass, will cost around EUR 15m and provide an
excellent view of the aircraft landing and taking off. It will have an area of 14,000 m2
and be completed by the end of 2003.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
IRON RHINE NO HARM TO MONTZEN
[INFRA: Eupen, April 13]
The modernization of the goods station at Montzen in the
Province of Liège, close to the German border, will go ahead. The most important part of
the work is the EUR 18m repair job on the Moresnet viaduct. This will allow Montzen to
compete with the trans-Limburg Iron Rhine link from Antwerp. Moresnet is part of the
existing route which crosses the province of Liège. The Montzen route will be re-opened
in September 2002. As there is growth in rail freight, more options must be created
between Antwerp and Germany, according to SNCB-Belgian Rail Manager for the Verviers
Region, Pierre Moson.
http://www.brf.be
FREE YOUTH RAIL TRAVEL
[INFRA: Eupen, April 13]
2000 Young people between the ages of 15 and 26 from the
Eupen area will receive a Go Pass from Belgian Railways, on request. This will allow them
to make ten free second class trips between any stations in Belgium. There are also
options for parents to travel free with their children. The pass will be available for one
year through to December 31, 2002. A deposit of EUR 2.50 has to be paid which will be
returned when the pass is returned. The object of the exercise is to get young people back
on the railways. Report by Gerard Cremer in the Aachener Zeitung.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
AIRPORT COOPERATION PLEA
[INFRA: Aachen, April 12]
The Social Democratic Group in the Aachen City Council
would like to see a Euroregional air traffic plan for Maastricht Aachen Airport, Liège
Airport and the airfield at Aachen-Merzbrueck. SPD Councillor Karl Schultheis says that
this would provide an attractive and competitive offering for airline passengers and air
cargo in the Euroregion. Schultheis believes that this sort of plan should precede the
development of a marketing strategy for Maastricht Aachen Airport, as currently proposed
(See next story). Currently, Liège is making a name for itself as a cargo hub and has
increased its tonnage tenfold in recent years. Maastricht Aachen Airport is developing
well on the passengers side and Merzbrueck is trying to hold on to its helicopters.Whether
any form of rationalization is likely to take place, in view of the diverse political
climates, remains to be seen.
http://www9.regioblick.de
http://www.webcontentnow.com
MAA CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING IN AACHEN
[INFRA: Aachen, April 10]
The Christian Democrats in the Aachen City Council want to
strengthen the image of Maastricht Aachen Airport in local people's mind. They propose
city participation in the airport company in the form of a EUR 25,000 share. A series of
other proposals include road signs to the airport from Aachen itself and on the German
federal highways: reference to it in advertising material and tourist organizations and
the development of a marketing strategy together with conference companies, sporting
events organizers, universities and hotels, etc. It is pointed out that Maastricht Aachen
Airport is closer to the center of Aachen than many city airports in other cities in
Germany. Cologne and Muenich were given as examples. The loss of the Berlin route has
occasioned a good deal of headscratching in Aachen on this topic.
http://www.maa.nl
MONEY FOR EUCREW
[INFRA: Maastricht, April]
The members of Netherlands' Limburg Provincial Parliament
have decided to award a sum of EUR 27,227 to support EUCREW, the European training center
for medical assistance by air and land. The objective is to provide EUCREW with
language, medical assistance, organization and air traffic courses. This will
allow EUCREW to organize transfrontier disaster exercises. EUCREW was developed by the
Dutch Automobile Association ANWB and its German counterpart ADAC. Transfrontier
emergencies services by air and road do exist in Meuse-Rhine, but they need to be better
coordinated to provide an optimal service. The training program was a requirement of the
participating countries .
http://www.limburg.nl
GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION
A LOST EDUCATIONAL CHANCE
[EDU: Aachen, April 27]
The Educational Department of the German
Railways has closed the Study Center that had opened in October 1999 in Aachen. The
objective of the Study Center was to provide transnational training for German, Belgian
and Dutch railway personnel, in cooperation with the other railway systems. 35 Young
people from Belgium and the Netherlands started their railway business training in 1999.
As a result of the closure, they will have to complete their studies in Cologne or
Troisdorf. Mayor Juergen Linden of Aachen has written a letter to Rolf Knoblauch, the head
of the Railway Educational Service, regretting this decision which had been taken without
consulting the city.
http://www9.regioblick.de
NETWORKED LEARNING
[EDU: Aachen, April 27]
The German Federal Minister of Education
and Research, Edelgard Bulmahn, has selected the Aachen region as one of the eight NRW
regions for the development program on 'Learning Regions - Developing Networks'. There
will be a grant of EUR 300,000 from the Ministry to develop a network and a range of
projects.
http://www.aachen.de
MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY
NEW HEART VALVES
[MED: Aachen, April 27]
The Director of Cardiac Surgery of the Aachen University
Clinic, Bruno Messmer, has announced that the Aachen Department is working on heart valves
made of natural materials. The trial period before they can be employed in human subjects
will be four to five years. An advantage of these heart valves is that they are capable of
keeping up with the growth of young people. They are made of the patient's blood and
tissue cells from which the scientists derive a gel, structural and endothelial cells. The
gel and the structural cells are injected into a mold. Then the cells are implanted in a
bioreactor to reactivate them. They develop into a resistant structure and are an
improvement on current animal and mechanical alternatives. Animal sourced valves only last
for seven years and mechanical valves require the use of additional blood products. The
prototypes will be tried this year on sheep.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
LIQUID-FUEL FUEL-CELL
[TECH: Juelich, April 26]
Juelich scientists have made another breakthrough in their
search for fuel cells for mobile use. They will be presenting a direct methanol fuel cell
with 500 Watt capacity at the Hanover Messe. This represents a tenfold increase in
performance over what was achieved last year. Direct methanol fuel cells are an example of
a form that can be used in a vehicle and with other portable systems. The problem with the
existing fuel cells is that they require gas fuels, such as hydrogen, which are difficult
to provide with the current fuel distributionl infrastructure which is based on fluids.
The new cell can simply be fueled with liquid methanol.
http://www.fuel-cells.de
REGIONAL ORGANIC PRODUCT GUIDE
[TECH: Aachen, April 25]
A regional product guide for organic and regional
agricultural products is in preparation for the Aachen region. A similar Guide Bio et
Saveurs du Terroire 2001 is available for the Walloon region, Brussels and Flanders at
EUR 12.3.
http://www.aachen.de
http://www.bio-logic.be
MORNING STAR IN HEERLEN
[TECH: Heerlen, April 24]
Morning Star Systems has moved into the LIOF Technohouse at
the Coriopolis Business park in Heerlen. The company is concerned with improving processes
between organizations by the application of web technology. Their leading clients include
KPN, Nortel, Shell and IBM. They produce software packages which allow principals and
clients to collaborate online. The standard package includes document management, workflow
management, groupware, scheduling and search functions. It is entirely web-based and can
be customized for clients.
http://www.morningstarsystems.com
AWT AND SPI+ SIGN AGREEMENT
[TECH: Liège, April 24]
SPI+ and AWT, the Walloon telecommunications agency, have
signed a partnership agreement to develop competiveness among companies by improving
their knowledge and application of IT systems.
http://www.awt.be
http://vigie.awt.be
E-NOVATION MEETING IN LILLE
[TECH: Liège, April 24]
The Chamber of Commerce in Lille is organizing an
e-novation meeting in cooperation with the European Commission for to-morrow's business
and commerce. It will be held at the Congres Center of the Grand Palais on May 30 and 31
and June 1, 2001.
More than 200 project managers from 90 major European
companies will be present and systems integrators from 20 European countries.
http://www.liegeonline.be
CYCOS CALL CENTER SUCCESS
[TECH: Aachen, April 20]
Cycos has developed an attractive platform with the
development of Multimedia Call Centers for small and medium-sized centers of up to 50
agents. As a result of the integration of call center functionality and unified messaging
features on a server platform, the combined information forms (fax, e-mail, voicemail,
sms, cti) can be routed intelligently in terms of established criteria and passed on to
the appropriate agents. The integration of web and WAP access also allows mobile access to
the system. This means that call centers can also link agents working from home.
http://www.cycos.com
900 NEW ECONOMY COMPANIES IN SOUTH
LIMBURG
[TECH: Maastricht, April 10]
South Limburg currently has 900 companies involved in IT,
computers and computerization. The registers of the Chambers of Commerce show that the
numbers are growing.
http://www.kamerkrantzuidlimburg.com/
IBGRAF MOVES
[TECH: Herstal, April]
IBGraf, a company which has specialized in information
management for twenty years with a focus on PC Networks, server configuration,
workstations, windows NT, Windows 2000 and Novell, is moving to the Teleparc at
Hauts-Sarts from its locations in Vottem and Verviers. On the first floor of the new
building it will have room for 100 staff and there will be meeting facilities with all
audiovisual aids, a kitchen and a large terrace. Training courses and
infrastructural facilities are availabe for demonstrations.
http://www.ibgraf.be/formation.htm
LEISURE
KLARA IN HASSELT
[LEI: Hasselt, April 27]
Klara in Hasselt is a musical program which
has been presented by VRT-Radio for the past ten years. This year, this festival of music
will take place in Hasselt from Friday June 1 through Sunday June 3. Various key sites in
Hasselt will host a range of different concerts, including a Carillon concert at
St.Quintinus Cathedral and the New York String Quintet at the National Jenever Museum.
There will be talks accompanied by music and walks that take in the Fashion Museum, the
Jenever or Gin Museum, and the Carillon Museum. Dancing queen of Rajastan will put on a
performance in the Gin Museum and there will be a jazz program with a Flemish ensemble.
The exquisite Corswarem House in Hasselt will hold what promises to be an
interesting debate, entitled 'Are there socialists in Hasselt?' between the well known
former defence Minister Willy Claes and Steve (the bulldozer) Stevaert, the Flemish
Minister and Mayor of Hasselt. Information is available on the website
http://www.klara.be
WALKS IN LIEGE
[LEI: Liège,
April 25]
A new series of walks is planned for the coming weeks in
Liège. They include the Old Walls and Bell Towers on Sunday May 6 at 14.00 hrs, walking
shoes are a requirement; Outremeuse, the home of Simenon, and Tchantchès, on Sunday May
20, departure 14.00 hrs; on Sunday June 3, the Cathedral area and on Sunday June 17, the
Hills between the Town and Countryside. These walks last two hours and are guided, but
should be reserved two weeks beforehand by phone 00.32.4.221.9221.
http://www.liege.be
MODERN HUNGARIAN ART
[LEI: Aachen, April 25]
There will be an exhibition of modern Hungarian art from
April 27 through June 3, 2001 at the Ludwig Forum for International Art in Aachen. The
earliest work is called the 'Monatskarte von Bela Bartok' by Hungarian artist Laslo
Lakner from Essen. His work was displayed as early as 1975. The exchange between the
Ludwig Museum and the Budapest Museums will continue for a number of years and has made it
possible to show works of other Hungarian artists including Akos Birkas, Imre Bukta and
Istvan Nadler.
http://www.heimat.de/ludwigforum
FLANDERS FESTIVAL
[LEI: Alden Biesen, April 25]
April 30, the Minister of Mobility, Steve Stevaert, is
holding a conference at Alden Biesen, Belgian Limburg, to present the Flanders Festival
program to interested visitors from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. There will be
eight festival locations with more than 350 concerts in more than 80 cities and
municipalities in Brussels and throughout Flanders.
http://www.festival-van-vlaanderen.be
FOLKLORE GOES DIGITAL
[LEI: Weert, April 20]
The Limburg Folklore Festival, known as OLS 2001, has been
available since April 20 on the internet. Surf to the site below
http://www.ols-2001.nl
GUIDE TO MAASTRICHT/S. LIMBURG
[LEI: Maastricht, April 19]
An attractive new travel guide to Maastricht and South
Limburg has been published in the Capitool Guide's series. The book is 208 pages long,
full colour and costs EUR 21.28. It covers churches, villages, hotels, museums,
architecture, chateaus, walks and provides maps. It is clearly to be recommended.
http://www.unieboek-businessclass.nl
ASPARAGUS SEASON OPENS
[LEI: Venlo, April 19]
On Thursday April 19 the first asparagus was served with
delicious Alsace wine in Venlo. This is an annual event of great importance. The asparagus
growing region reaches down to Meuse-Rhine at Roermond. Present at the opening were the
French Ambassador Anne Gazeau-Secret and the Mayor of Venlo Jan Schrijen. Despite the
inclement weather, a cold start to the season, the prospect remains a cheerful one.
http://www.asperge.nl
http://www.vvv.nl
http://www.vinalsace.com
http://www.hanos.nl
VAL-DIEU CONCERTS
[LEI: Aubel, April 11]
Classical music fans will be able to attend concerts that
have won a following over 30 years at the Abbey of Val-Dieu from May 25 through June 22.
On May 25, the concerts start with the works of Schubert and Brahms. Concerts always begin
at 20.15 hrs and entrance is between EUR 12.50 - EUR 15.- Subscriptions to the series cost
EUR 50. Tickets can be ordered from May 2 at Hotel Communal, Place Nicolai 1 in Aubel.
Tel. 0032.87680131.
http://www.cyberverviers.be/valdieu.htm
MEUSE-RHINE CYCLE TOURS
[LEI: Aachen, April 11]
The first Meuse-Rhine Euroregional Cycle Tourism Fair will
be held from June 8 through June 10 at the Kurparkterrassen Aachen, Dammstrasse. The fair
is designed to awaken interest in this type of tourism and there will be a specialist
conference and exhibition during the fair on June 8 from 10.00 - 17.00 hrs. Specialists
will be invited to discuss the topic of 'Cycling Tourism as a System'.
http://www.aachener-zeitung.de
THE FIRE TRAIL
[LEI: Liège, April]
The industrial heritage in the Province of Liège can be
followed on the map by visits to way stations on the fire trail. A good place to start is
at the Metallurgy and Industry Museum in Liège which has a blast furnace dating from the
14th century and to pursue the trail to Seraing's Val Saint-Lambert, where crystal is
made, then back to the blast furnace at Ougrée and the Arms Museum in Liège center and
later you can even go underground at the Blegny mine. Information by e-mail from
jwauters@arebs.be
http://www.trabel.com/luik/liege-museums.htm
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