Horsten International has strategic alliances with several chambers of commerce, sectoral associations, government agencies, private equity partners, consultants and other strategic partners in Belgium, Hong Kong and China. Additionally Horsten International has (co-)invested in several China-related projects, some of them as a (co-)initiator and/or a (co-)shareholder.
PARTNERS
Heylen Group is a shareholder and strategic partner of Horsten International, creating mutual added value in the internationalisation and professionalisation of both companies.
Heylen Group is a Belgian industrial holding that invests in ambitious enterprises and entrepreneurs worldwide. Heylen Group believes in a buy-build-and-hold strategy in which innovation, internationalisation and operational excellence are key priorities. Heylen Group is founded by Wim Heylen in 2000. Thanks to a clear vision and a highly motivated team Heylen Group has developed into a holding of more than 30 companies and around 2800 employees.
The backbone of Heylen Group's DNA is cross-generational thinking. The combination of passionate entrepreneurship, a long-term vision and presence in various countries and sectors makes Heylen Group's corporate model flexible, resilient and future-proof.
Horsten International has a collaboration with the "Capricorn Fusion China Fund". This fund invests both in successful entrepreneurial companies who wish to scale up their European business in China and in successful Chinese companies scaling up their business in Europe.
Horsten International was involved in this project from the early beginning and is a minority shareholder in this succesful joint venture.
Horsten assisted the Thiebaut family to prepare the feasibility study, the negotiation of favourable contracts with the Chinese partners, assistance in the design and preparatory phase of the joint venture, as well as the financing of its share contribution.
Over the years Horsten has built good relationships with the Chinese partners and the Chinese management of the joint venture, one of the key values of this succesful joint venture. Today the joint venture is still very succesful and profitable and ready to grasp the opportunities and challenges which the Chinese pharmaceutical and cosmetic market is facing.
Since 1998 Horsten International has been a member of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC). Since 2017 Bart Horsten, Managing Director of Horsten International, is a Board Member of BCECC. Furthermore, Horsten International is responsible for the content management of the BCECC WeChat acccount.
UNIZO (Organisation for the Self-Employed and SMEs) is the largest Flemish organisation for self-employed entrepreneurs and champions the interests of these entrepreneurs.
Horsten International has contributed to several events of Unizo. Examples are the participation by Bart Horsten as the keynote speaker in the Unizo China Master Class programs in 2019 and 2020, during the economic delegation to China in 2019, as a panel member at the New Silk Road event in October 2020 and as a keynote speaker at the Exportbeurs 2021.
Voka is the biggest Flemish network of enterprises, representing 65% of the private employment and 70% of the added value in Flanders and Brussels.
Since 2008 Horsten International has been a frequent speaker at VOKA events and seminars. Topics concerned are strategic considerations of doing business in China, China entry modes, cultural differences, sourcing from China, selling in China, e-commerce and social media in China, legal issues, case studies and testimonials.
The Green Seed Group is an international food and drink sales and marketing consultancy that helps clients from all over the globe to build their business in over 20 markets. Services provided: defining new market opportunities, identifying routes to market, delivering sales and marketing plans, growing business.
Horsten International is a strategic partner of Green Seed for development of the China market for its customers.
Start2bric is a professional HR specialist in the recruitment, selection and employment and payroll set-up of employees in foreign markets. Horsten International and Start2Bric often work together succesfully for some of its China projects.
Tmall Global is the cross-border e-commerce platform of Alibaba. Horsten International signed an agreement with Alibaba to set up an exclusive flagship store for Belgian food & beverage brands.
WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app developed by Tencent. Since 2016 Horsten works together with Tencent to set up multiple WeChat official accounts for its customers, including the content management and online marketing.