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Cross-border
economic
development 16 Territory portraits: economic development on different borders
There are very high levels of cross-border commercial transactions
but they are difficult to quantify given that retail frequentation data is
confidential as it is property of retailers. Lille is the preferred destination
for luxury goods and the Belgian side of the border is more attractive for
other types of retailers (although the hypermarkets in France still attract
many Belgian customers). Along the coast, cooperation has developed
particularly in the areas of port logistics9 and tourism.
With respect to innovation, cooperation is growing apace, supported
by public and semi-public players.
Ì Ì The French-Flemish project TANDEM10 was tasked with creating
links between clusters and research and innovation centres on
both sides of the border and making knowledge available to the
world of business.
Ì Ì Another example of cooperation in the area of innovation is
Innov’Eurometropolis,11 an innovation platform bringing together
partners from the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis (networking,
identification of players).
Promotion of the territory remains a competitive field in which the
advantages of cross-border cooperation appear limited for the local
players.
9 For examples, see the following projects: C2C -Connect to Compete (2007-2011), PATCH –
Ports Adapting to Change (2008-2012) and CAST – Coastal Actions on Sustainable Tourism
(2010-2013), co-financed by the 2 Seas programme. For more information:
10 Implemented between 2011 and 2014, co-financed by the INTERREG France-Wallonia-
Flanders programme.
11 Implemented between 2011 and 2014, co-financed by the INTERREG FWVL programme.
For more information:
Ì Ì However, a joint initiative to promote the territory has been
launched in the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis, with the
aim of communicating about its common assets and attracting
businesses (the Invest in Eurometropolis project12 ).
Ì Ì The Centre Transfrontalier des Entreprises13 (Cross-Border
Business Centre) network has been created for SMEs wishing
to establish themselves on either side of the French-Belgian
border and offers support services. This network is composed
of several public and private economic bodies (Greater Lille CCI,
VOKA (Flanders Chamber of Commerce and Industry), UNIZO
(Unie van Zelfstandige Ondernemers – Union of Independent
Entrepreneurs), CCI Wallonie-Picarde, POM, and the intermunicipal
agencies IDETA and IEG).
12 Implemented between 2011 and 2014, co-financed by the FWVL programme. For
more information:
13 Implemented between 2008 and 2014, co-financed by the FWVL programme. For more
information:
The Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis Jobs Forum © Le Forem