FleishmanHillard Fishburn has won an assignment with Flanders Investment & Trade, Belgium’s economic development agency for the region of Flanders, to encourage inward investment and business growth. Flanders, which includes the cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, is increasingly a European gateway for technology, research and development, shipping and manufacturing companies.

FleishmanHillard Fishburn will target small and medium-sized British businesses expanding into Europe, particularly in technology-related sectors. The project will focus on media relations and is being led by Ludo Baynham-Herd, account director in the corporate practice, with Michael Hartt, gead of international affairs, as a strategic advisor.

The win is part of FleishmanHillard Fishburn’s growing portfolio in London of governments, government agencies and international organisations. It recently hired Hartt to lead its international affairs offering, leading work with governments and political parties on issues management, economic development and country branding. He was previously a senior director at Burson-Marsteller UK and vice president at Edelman in Washington, D.C.

Hartt says, “Particularly as Brexit draws closer, we are seeing an uptick in countries, regions and cities eager to connect with British businesses and wanting to position themselves favourably in the government’s future economic and trade plans. Flanders is a hidden gem for everything from start-ups to multinational companies, and we are excited to help highlight its advantages to British companies that are expanding on the continent.”