Category: Business

According to data provided by the Media Information Center (CIM), Facebook continues to maintain its dominant position as the largest social network in Belgium. In particular, the year-on-year increase in the number of Facebook users confirms the importance of Facebook in the Belgian social media landscape. However, it is worth noting that Facebook’s user base differs from that of its competitors. Figures from the CIM survey show that 68.9% of respondents are active Facebook users. What makes Facebook stand out even more is that the average age of its active…

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The Audi Q4 is getting a facelift. While the whole world is focusing on the car’s technical specifications, we Belgians are particularly proud of where the Q4 will be assembled. Because the Q4 e-tron will roll off the production line at the Audi plant in Vorst! In other words, the Q8 e-tron will have a new companion on the Vorst production line. The model features considerable additional technology compared to the pre-makeover version. New shock absorbers and a tuned steering system aim to provide an even sportier feel. Standard equipment…

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The plan to build a new gas power plant in Henegouwen is no longer in line with Eneco’s ambition to provide only CO2-neutral electricity to its customers by 2035. Only Tessenderlo still feels compelled to invest in gas power plants. Eneco is no longer a candidate to invest in a large gas-fired power plant in Manage, near La Louvière. Although the permitting process is still ongoing, the company intends to focus on renewable energy or flexible solutions with green hydrogen or battery parks at the site, says Bert Clinckers, the…

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Ursula von der Leyen won’t like to hear it, but a new week brings a new Chinese car brand aiming to make it big in Belgium. Starting in October, Hedin Automotive will begin selling the Hongqi E-HS9, a massive and luxurious SUV with a starting price of just €69,995. The E-HS9 is currently the flagship of Hongqi, a brand that is 65 years old and used to convert Russian limousines exclusively for high-ranking officials in China. Times have changed, however, and now even you and I can park a Hongqi…

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The economic growth in the eurozone is expected to be slower this year than previously forecasted, according to the European Commission. The culprit is the German economy, which is at risk of entering a recession this year. For our country, the National Bank predicts a growth of 0.2 percent in the third quarter. Belgian near-zero growth In the new outlook, the Commission focuses only on the five largest economies in the eurozone (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands) and Poland. Therefore, it has not delved deeper into the Belgian…

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SUVs accounted for more than half of the registrations in the first half of 2023: 51 percent. In H1 of the previous year, it was 48 percent, as reported by Auto News Europe based on Dataforce figures. The sales of SUVs grew by 23 percent in the first six months, reaching 3.37 million units. This growth rate is higher than that of the overall automotive market (17 percent), resulting in an increased market share for SUVs. The most registered SUV in the EU is the Tesla Model Y (with 138…

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Gasunie has made the investment decision for the first part of the national hydrogen network. This national hydrogen network, which will cost approximately 1.5 billion euros, will connect, starting from 2030, the major industrial regions in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The investment for the first part amounts to 100 million euros and will be developed by Gasunie’s subsidiary, Hynetwork Services. The work will commence after the summer in Rotterdam. The network will also have connections to import terminals in the seaports, domestic hydrogen production, and large-scale hydrogen storage facilities….

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The electric vehicles (EVs) from the American company Fisker will soon be available for purchase in Belgium. The vehicles can be ordered through Fisker’s website and will be delivered starting from the end of September, according to the manufacturer. Fisker currently offers the Fisker Ocean SUV as its sole model. The vehicle has been available for some time in the United States, Canada, and seven European countries. “Ultimately, we aim to sell our vehicles worldwide,” stated Henrik Fisker, the company’s chairman and CEO. Sales in the European countries will be…

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Budget airline Ryanair cancels 88 flights to and from the airport in the Belgian city of Charleroi on Monday and Tuesday due to a pilot strike. This information is reported by the Belgian airport, which is also frequented by many Dutch travelers. The canceled flights were scheduled for popular holiday destinations in Europe, such as Prague, Barcelona, and Lisbon. A total of 44 flights will be canceled on both days. Some flights to and from Charleroi will still operate. Ryanair states that it has offered affected travelers an alternative flight….

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Belgium is a European leader in recycling, one of the few nations to meet recycling targets set out by the EU. Other than household and commercial waste, Belgian recycling plants are now helping to reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign minerals. Rare earth metals, commonly used in the production of high-tech goods, are desperately needed for the European economy. China has a monopoly on the supply of these metals, producing up to 97% of the world’s supply. In July, China placed export restrictions on gallium and germanium metals, which are indispensable…

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