AWEX provides financial support to business groups and federations, clusters, exporters' clubs, bilateral chambers of commerce, etc. based on an annual action programme abroad, such as missions and participation in trade fairs abroad, inviting foreign decision-makers to Wallonia and communication supports designed for international distribution.

A business group is a professional, interprofessional or sector-based association that represents non-profit businesses and organises projects for its Walloon members that encourage international entrepreneurship from Wallonia.

The business group is registered at the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and listed in the AWEX database of Walloon exporters (RENEW). It has stable roots in Wallonia, demonstrated by the installation in the Walloon Region of the business group itself or a significant proportion of its members, determined by having their main place of business in Wallonia.

A bilateral chamber of commerce is a non-profit association whose activity aims to promote the trade relations of the Walloon Region with one or more other countries or another region and that organises projects that encourage international entrepreneurship from the Walloon Region. It is registered with the authorities of the country in which its headquarters are located and listed in the AWEX database of Walloon Exporters (RENEW).

For the annual action programme of a business group, the AWEX financial contribution is a maximum of 50% of the budget admissible after the application of the Walloon prorata.

A 28.7% limit is applied to the subsidy calculation for bilateral chambers of commerce that serve businesses in several regions of Belgium. However, this percentage may be increased or decreased if it is demonstrated that the added value of the initiatives for the Walloon Region and the businesses established there is higher or lower, depending on the case.

Any subsidy application must be submitted at the latest by 30 April of the calendar year preceding that during which the programme of action is planned.

The Decree of the Walloon Government on support for the internationalisation of business groups, bilateral chambers of commerce and their members sets the deadline for the submission of 2022 subsidy applications at 30 April 2021.

However, due to the exceptional circumstances we are still facing this year and the uncertainty they generate, the deadline for the submission of 2022 subsidy applications has been postponed to 30 April 2022 and the one for 2023 has been postponed to 16 September 2022.

In the case of applications for subsidies that have been agreed by the Minister, the payment procedure is simplified in accordance with the principle of trust.

The beneficiary must send AWEX their full payment request at the latest by 30 April of the calendar year following the year covered by the agreed subsidy. The payment request will be rejected after this date.

Stage 1: carefully read the subsidy presentation leaflet for business groups and bilateral chambers of commerce

Stage 2: download, complete and register:

 - the presentation sheet of your action programme

 - the budget sheet of your action programme

Stage 3: click on the "form" link and complete it by attaching the documents already prepared during stage 2

Stage 4: validate your application by clicking Send