The Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), which has been in existence for 40 years and is more vibrant than ever, held its second Business Meeting of the year in Lagos on 26 June 2025, with the theme: “Gaining Insights for Successful Business Development in Nigeria”.

Marc Eeckhout, the General Manager of the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce, was present when the six speakers delivered papers at the meeting.

They are Olivier De Blauwe – Country Manager of Soudal, Akahibe Cynthia – Project Manager X-Gems, Pieter-Jan Fonteyne – Area Sales Manager (Africa) Beaulieu International Group, Dany Callebaut – Managing Director of Aquatelos Nigeria Limited, Francois Gillet – CEO/MD of Promasidor, and Dennis Simonin – Managing Director of Etex Group.

Pieter-Jan Fonteyne, Area Sales Manager for Africa at Beaulieu International Group, travelled to Nigeria from Belgium specifically to attend the business meeting and explore opportunities in the country. His company, Beauflor, manufactures vinyl sheets for export.

He disclosed that “Beauflor has four factories in Europe and America and exports its flooring solutions globally to 100 countries.”

His words: “We make vinyl flooring in wood, uni, tile and custom-made digital designs for architects, hotels, building contractors and distributors. You roll it and glue it to the floor. We have a super qualitative, easy-to-clean, and easy-to-maintain flooring for residential and commercial use.”

Fonteyne noted: “I am here in Nigeria to find distributors, architects and building developers to start a sustainable long-term business relationship.”

Dany Callebaut, Managing Director of Aquatelos Nigeria Limited, shared his vision to raise standards in Nigeria’s construction and hospitality industries.

“I came to Nigeria after meeting a visionary Yoruba businessman — a serial entrepreneur determined to disrupt local markets through practical, game-changing innovation. That perspective matches my own experience: with over 10 years of exporting polypropylene panels worldwide, I saw how companies transform these materials into durable, high-performance products.”

He went on, “Instead of just selling panels, I wanted to move beyond trade and build local fabrication capabilities that no one else offers here — which is why we established our own workshop in Apapa, Lagos.”

What does he see as a major challenge in his sphere of business? Danny noted that many buyers focus only on the upfront cost instead of the long-term value.

“Cheap materials often fail prematurely, leading to costly repairs and replacements. Our polypropylene panels are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and chemically stable. Combined with their weldability—which creates strong, seamless joints—these qualities extend product life and significantly lower the total cost of ownership,” he added.

Dany explained that AquaTelos currently provides plunge pools, toilet and shower cubicles, septic tanks, and grease traps — examples of customised polypropylene solutions designed for Nigeria’s conditions, with more applications to come.

He went on, “Recently, the company added Beauflor vinyl flooring to its portfolio, a move Dany embraced because the brand perfectly complements AquaTelos’ focus on durable, quality solutions.”

He argued that “Beauflor is a trusted European brand known for durability and easy maintenance while urging buyers to adopt a long-term vision.”

While applauding the federal government for its far reaching economic policies, he urged the government to invest in its future by addressing ongoing challenges like logistics infrastructure, energy costs, and security, adding that, “in Belgium for example, strong government subsidies and close collaboration with world-renowned universities fuel thriving R&D, enabling companies to innovate and compete globally.”

Dany expressed his willingness to enter into partnership with businesses and institutions aligned with AquaTelos’ commitment to practical, durable solutions and long-term value.

Olivier De Blauwe, the Country Manager of Soudal, said: “I came to Africa 10 years ago, I was in South Africa for seven years and only came to Nigeria three years ago. We have business relationships with construction companies such as ITB Nigeria, Cappa and D’Alberto, Julius Berger, Craneburg, among others.”

Olivier disclosed that the company is focusing on Lagos and Ibadan for now, adding that “later we will move to Abuja and other cities in Nigeria in the near future.” As he put it, “We distribute our products to construction companies and to the open market. We have no competitor, quality-wise, because we manufacture excellent and high-quality products.

“Our main competitors are the Chinese, but we do not really see them as competitors because they offer low quality. They do not stick to the rules and change the quality of their products arbitrarily.

“We, as a European company, have a long-term vision; we do not want to cheat the customer. When they come to Soudal, they always come back. It takes time to build a brand, but we are on the right track,” he added.

“To most multinational companies, Nigeria is a fast-growing country economically.

“We are in Nigeria as a construction company, and we believe there is a substantial housing deficit due to the growing population. Nigeria is projected to surpass America in size. The main reason we came to Nigeria is because we have invested heavily in Nigeria and Africa for the future. We are aware of the challenges in Nigeria, and as a multinational, we are fully compliant with Nigeria’s requirements.”

Comparing Nigerians with South Africans, Olivier described Nigerians as more flexible, agile, and business-minded.

“I like working with Nigerians. When I arrived in Nigeria, I met good people. As a multinational company, we look after our workers. We pay them better than our competitors in Nigeria—better salaries, medical allowances, and pensions—because we aim to attract qualified individuals.

“Presently, we have seven staff members. I prefer qualified staff over a larger quantity of staff, as it promotes efficiency. The Nigerian government has implemented many economic measures. If the government continues with its current structural policies, it will benefit Nigerians.

“Right now, the Nigerian currency is becoming stable. With the right business climate, it will draw the much-needed foreign investors, there are many business opportunities in Nigeria because it is a potential market for the multinationals. Nigeria is a fast-growing country, faster than its infrastructural facilities, faster than its housing supply, faster than its land availability in major cities; the housing industry is where our company’s interest lies.

“Our products include Sealants, Adhesives, PU Foams and Technical Aerosols, among others; also, alternative solutions to the construction and automotive industries. We are the largest independent European manufacturer of Sealants and Adhesives,” he added.

In his closing remarks, the General Manager of NBCC, Marc Eeckhout, thanked the speakers for the enlightened presentations and disclosed that the next business meeting will be held in September 2025.