Since 2002 the Government of Flanders has had a Representative Office in the UK, based in Flanders House, located on Cavendish Square, in the centre of the British capital. Flanders House is also home to our colleagues of Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) and Visit Flanders.
Flanders House is part of the Belgian Embassy and our role is to promote Flanders in the UK. As a constituent part within the Belgian federation, Flanders has lots of responsibilities. Education, culture, research, economic development, trade, tourism, sports, media, agriculture, housing, infrastructure and mobility, spatial planning, environmental and social policies, are some of these devolved powers.
The Representation promotes Flanders via various events and actions highlighting some of Flanders' main assets. Our work is concentrated around five pillars: economic diplomacy, academic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, public diplomacy and the commemoration of the First World War. As we are fast approaching 2014, the projects around the centenary are becoming more and more important.
Flanders Investment and Trade helps Flemish companies export to the UK and supports foreign companies wanting to invest in Flanders. FIT also has an office in Edinburgh, Scotland. The task of Visit Flanders is to promote tourism to Flanders and Brussels.