Ambitions for 2014: 60 new jobs in Ghent and an extra 100 in Liège thanks to microcredit
On 10 and 11 June 2013 microStart opened two new branches, one in Ghent and the other in Liège, in the presence of numerous representatives of the worlds of politics, the economy and finance. The microcredit organisation hopes to finance 120 new businesses in Liège and around a hundred in Ghent, leading to the creation of about 160 jobs in the two cities in 2014.
Since it was launched in Brussels two years ago, microStart has become a major player in the fight against social exclusion and unemployment. Thanks to microcredit and free support provided by volunteer experts, the microfinance institution helps those who are excluded from the conventional banking system to implement their own business project.
In 2012, the microStart branches in Brussels received almost 1,000 entrepreneurs and provided 275 microloans, nearly three times the figures recorded in 2011. In total, almost 200 jobs have been created in the capital. Virtually 90 % of its beneficiaries are of foreign origin, may or may not have qualifications, live below the poverty threshold and are without much prospect of finding work on the labour market.
Strong demand – As this problem is not limited to Brussels, it was important for microStart to be present in the other regions of Belgium as well, a wish that is now taking practical shape with the opening of the two local branches in Ghent and Liège.
“The opening of these two new branches was a logical next step, given the excellent results obtained during the pilot phase in Brussels. It’s a way of responding to strong demand, increasing the impact we have and contributing towards social cohesion”, explains Philippe Maystadt, Minister of State, who recently became the president of microStart.
“Needless to say, Ghent and Liège were not chosen by chance. We carried out a feasibility study in each region. This study showed that, in addition to their dynamism, Liège and Ghent had good potential for us,” he goes on.
Local partners – “In 2012, we contacted the two cities and met local partners. The welcome was very favourable and our financial partners quickly decided in favour of a capital increase to finance our development,” explains Patrick Sapy, general manager of microStart.
“The support of the authorities was also decisive. Our Liège branch was partly funded by the Region and the city found us volunteers. The city of Ghent provided us with premises and also made a financial contribution. Just like Liège, it has a sizeable foreign community. In that sense, it will be an excellent test.”
The two branches have been open to the public for a month now. Liège has already financed around twenty projects. The target for 2013 is to finance about fifty projects in the city.
As proof of the interest and growing support for microcredit, the Liège branch was opened on 11 June in the presence of numerous leading figures in the world of the economy and finance, including representatives of the mayor of Liège and the Walloon minister for the economy, Luc Pire, entrepreneur and sponsor of microStart Liège, and Filip Dierckx, vice-chairman of the BNP Paribas Fortis Management Committee and president of Febelfin.
A day earlier, the Ghent branch had been opened in the presence of Maggie De Block, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty, assistant to the Minister of Justice, Mathias De Clercq, first alderman and alderman responsible for Port Affairs, the Economy and Business of the city of Ghent, and Luc Haegemans, Secretary General of BNP Paribas Fortis.
Outlook for 2014 – microStart is not planning to stop there. In 2014, a third development phase is expected to take shape with the opening of two new branches in Flanders and in Wallonia. “We are convinced that there is also potential in other towns and cities in the country. After these first offices, and to the extent that we receive support from local partners, we will try to respond to this potential by opening another two branches in 2014.”
microStart will employ four people in Liège and currently has three in Ghent. For 2014, the new Liège branch is expected to finance around 120 new businesses and its counterpart in Ghent around a hundred. By 2014, microcredit should have led to the creation of around 60 new jobs in Ghent and 100 more in Liège.
Read also the interview with Luc Haegemans, secretary general of BNP Paribas Fortis.
Press contacts
Hilde Junius – 02 565 47 37 – hilde.junius@bnpparibasfortis.com
Valéry Halloy – 02 565 46 50 – valery.halloy@bnpparibasfortis.com
Kim Cauberghs – 02 228 37 94 – kim.cauberghs@bnpparibasfortis.com