Trade Mission needs students!
In the subject Trade Mission you represent a company or organisation abroad as a VUB student. As a student, you will have to convince companies to finance you in order to carry out an assignment abroad. A big challenge! But your chances of success increase considerably through the intercultural skills and finesses you learn during the preparation of the project.
You will also need these entrepreneurial skills in the second challenge of the project, when you actually go on a mission and have to bring it to a successful outcome. In addition to entrepreneurial and intercultural skills, you will also carry out market research and interact with business partners from other countries. An unparalleled learning experience! Are you curious to know more?
Trade mission needs companies!
International trade is very important, it increases prosperity and contributes to sustainability. Would you like to know more? Click here and find out all about the countries, the students' tasks, experiences from previous editions and much more. Do you still have questions? We are happy to help you via
Develop yourself internationally on a Trade Mission
Are you a VUB graduate who embraces new challenges and is not afraid of leaping into the unknown? Do you want to sharpen your intercultural skills by living in the context of international business? Then the Trade Mission is something for you!
Following the annual tradition, the VUB offers to committed VUB students like you the opportunity to represent a Belgian company in important, growing economies abroad. Each year, different countries are selected. In 2025, for instance, they explored the Tanzanian and Egyptian markets during three calendar weeks. This year’s the trade mission will discover what the Mexican and Southern Indian markets have to offer.
As a motivated master's student you possess a broad knowledge and you look forward to putting all those academic insights into practice. The VUB Trade Mission project would like to help you with that! The project stimulates you to further apply your accumulated economic, technological and linguistic skills through a relevant project abroad. You will carry out this project for a Belgian company. You can count on the academic guidance of Prof. Dr. Michaël Dooms and Prof. Dr. Geerts and their team. You will also receive professional support from the Solvay Business School and its alumni, Flanders Investment & Trade, the Belgian embassies, the federal and regional ministers and the Foreign Trade Agency. This extensive professional network guarantees you a successful project!
In concrete terms, there are various assignments that you carry out as part of your project on a Trade Mission. For example, the company you are working for may ask you to conduct local market research. As part of that research, you will write recommendations for a successful marketing mix, track down potential suppliers and customers, make an analysis of the distribution and storage possibilities, carry out research into opportunities within the company's sector, and so on. There is a wide range of possibilities. What you will do is determined in consultation with the company you are working for and the academic team. Your tasks may include research on the impact of tariffs on the logistics chains, a pre-feasibility analysis of re- or near-shoring of production and logistics activities, the analysis of the state of affairs, tracing potential (new or alternative) suppliers and customers and researching new opportunities. One thing is certain: this is an interesting international challenge that will help you grow as a student to the maximum. So don't hesitate and apply for the Trade Mission 2027 in April-May!
Don’t miss the annual info sessions! One will take place before the Easter holidays and another right after. Keep an eye on Canvas and our social media channels for the exact dates.
Do you still have questions? Download the brochure via this link. Curious about how things are going this year? Follow us on our social media here. Want to see how the project has evolved in previous years? Click here.
Vacancy
You are...
- A motivated VUB student with a great sense of entrepreneurship
- Reliable
- Professionally minded
You have…
- Commitment
- Leadership skills
- Good study results
- Team player mentality
- Language skills
What's in it for you?
- Priceless knowledge and experience
- Workshops
- Intercultural and entrepreneurial skills
- You actively contribute to the Belgian and Flemish economy
- An unforgettable international experience (also for your CV)
- A new group of friends for life!
Develop your business internationally via the VUB Trade Mission project
Are you an entrepreneur who would like to offer master students a first professional experience? Would you like to know what the potential is of your company abroad? Would you like to be represented at an international level by a master student and build a powerful network? Then the VUB Trade Mission project is something for you!
Initiatiefgroep Solvay known as Inisol, the association founded for and by business engineering studentspursuing their master's degrees, has since 1991 annually organised successful trade missions. This project is dedicated to engaged students and offers the opportunity to represent your company in important, growing economies abroad. For this purpose, we work together with, among others, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the Belgian Embassy on the spot and the Foreign Trade Agency to obtain professional advice and make the necessary contacts. The Trade Mission offers master students the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge they acquired during their studies in the field of technology, language skills and economy. They receive guidance from an experienced and professional academic team. Every year, about thirty companies participate in each Trade Mission. A fruitful trade mission requires an organised cooperation throughout the process. Therefore, frequent consultation moments between the participating company, the representative of Flanders Investment & Trade, the student involved, and the academic team are important. To make the project as successful as possible, we are always looking for new companies. So that is where you come in!
Concretely, if you wish to participate in the project, one of the master students from the Trade Mission Team will work with you. The student does this by carrying out an assignment for your company. Some examples of assignments are recommendations for a successful marketing mix in the country where the student is conducting research with a focus on the products/services you offer, research into the opportunities within your company's sector and research into potential suppliers and customers. We determine the exact assignment for your company in consultation with you. Moreover, you choose how this cooperation will take place. We strongly recommend that your company offers the student a good internal training, in addition to the necessary self-study.
During the mission, we communicate regularly about the evolution of the assignment to be carried out. This makes it possible to supervise the student and to adjust the assignment if desired. At the end of the mission, the students draw up a detailed final report, which is accompanied by an oral explanation. This explanation takes place in the presence of Prof. Dooms or Prof. Dr. Geerts, and yourself as the client. The final report explains all the actions needed to bring the assignment to a successful conclusion. Additionally, it includes in a structured manner the information obtained before and during the mission, analyses, results achieved and conclusions drawn. Your company therefore receives an accurate and thorough report that covers all aspects of the described assignment. We guarantee this, as this final report is part of the students' graduation requirements.
Finally, your participation in the costs of this project amounts to €4.500. This includes all travel and accommodation costs. In agreement with FIT, part of this may be subsidised. This unique cooperation can be a real added value not only for the students, but also for you as a company. The missions offer students remarkable opportunities to acquire international knowledge and practical experience, while also representing our country and your company on the global stage. It is a unique occasion to introduce your company to international markets, where new business possibilities and valuable partnerships arise. You will have the chance to network with talented and motivated students, future leaders in their field of expertise, who bring fresh insights and innovative ideas. So don't hesitate and join us! Do you still have questions? Then download the brochure via this link. If you are curious about how this year's project is going and how it evolved in previous years, click here.
Vacancy
What's in it for you?
- We are a team of motivated master's students at the end of our academic programme with a broad knowledge and are looking forward to putting these insights into practice
- We use our accumulated economic, technological and linguistic skills and will continue to use them to carry out the assignment with maximum professionalism
- The contacts we have built with different economic institutions guarantee professional support by experts in the field
Trade mission 2026 - 36th edition
This year, the trade mission team in collaboration with Inisol is organising two trade missions to Mexico (Mexico City) and South-India (Bangalore) for the 36th edition. The missions will last three calendar weeksand will take place in spring 2026. Specifically, the trade mission to Mexico will take place from 2 March to 20 March, and the mission to South-India from 6 April to 24 April.
However, preparations begin as early as the summer months preceding the academic year. Practical matters such as accommodation, local transport and communication tools will all be arranged before travelling. By following this approach, we ensure that during the three weeks on location, full focus can be dedicated to executing the mission and completing the business assignment. To ensure thorough communication and progress tracking, interim reports are submitted to the client before, during, and after the mission. The final report is submitted within eight weeks after returning.
Mexico
Economy
Mexico stands as the world’s 12th largest economy and the second largest in Latin America with a GDP of 1.594 billion EUR. Its skilled and cost-effective workforce, extensive network of trade agreements, strategic location in Central America, and growing focus on nearshoring make the country highly attractive for companies seeking to establish, relocate, or expand operations in North and Latin America. Over 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, creating both significant opportunities and a strong dependence on the US market. To address this, Mexico’s 2030 plan aims to strengthen the domestic market and boost self-sufficiency.
Economic progress
Mexico’s GDP growth averaged approximately around 1,3% annually between 2015 and 2024, and is projected to increase by 1,1% in 2026. This figure is an average, and individual years saw significant fluctuations, including a substantial contraction in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and strong recovery in 2021, followed by continued, albeit lower, growth in recent years. Mexico also has a track record of prudent but reactive fiscal management, which led to a successful and robust inflation targeting regime. Inflation is estimated to decrease from 4,7% in 2024 to 3,2% in 2026. This easing inflation pressure will drive up consumer confidence whereas the gradual decline in interest rates will stimulate private investments, which will both contribute to a greater economy.
International Trade
Mexico's top export destinations in 2023 were the United States, Canada, and China, with motor vehicles being the most significant export, accounting for nearly 10% of total export value. Other key exports included vehicle parts, trucks, automatic data-processing machines, and petroleum oils. On the import side, the United States, China, and Germany were the main sources, with vehicle parts leading imports at around 5% of the total, followed by petroleum oils, electronic integrated circuits, and telephone sets. These trade patterns highlight Mexico’s strong reliance on the US market, which absorbed over 80% of its exports and supplied more than 40% of its imports in 2023, while reflecting its dual dependence on manufactured goods in exports and industrial inputs and energy in imports.
Politics
In 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, climate scientist and member of the IPCC ('Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change') team awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, was elected Mexico’s first female president, serving until 2030. In 2024, the president was also honored with the Medal of Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability by the Nobel Sustainability Trust. Her party, MORENA, won the democratic presidency for the second time since its founding, securing a supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies, a majority in the Senate, and controls over 27 out of 31 state congresses. This gives President Sheinbaum significantly more legislative power than her predecessors, allowing her to pass constitutional reforms with fewer obstacles.
Business environment & culture
Mexico offers strong macroeconomic fundamentals and significant opportunities, though investors will have to navigate a complex but positively evolving political and regulatory landscape. Due to the changing internal and external environment, patience and understanding of the local businesses is a key factor in building those relations, since decisions could take some time to develop. It is advised to build strong relations with partners before heading towards business related aspects.
South-India
Economy
With a GDP of 3.341,88 billion EUR in 2024, India’s economy is among the fastest growing in the world. This impressive result can be attributed to the fact that, with approximately 1,45 billion inhabitants, consisting mainly of young people, the world’s most populous country can meet the growing economy’s demand for labour. The Indian government is also supporting economic growth by expanding modern infrastructure, aiming to connect economic hubs to both ports and airports while keeping public debt under control. Government initiatives such as ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ promote digital transformation and manufacturing in the country.
Economic progress
The potential of the Indian market is based, among other factors, on the country’s rise to the fifth-largest economy in the world and the ongoing growth of its middle class. The economy is also expected to continue expanding in the coming years, with particularly high expectations for the services sector.
India's annual GDP grew on average by approximately 6,1% between 2015 and 2024. For the last decade it has seen significant fluctuations, with rates like 3,9% in 2019, a contraction of 5,8% in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic), and a strong rebound to 9,2% in 2023. In 2024, India’s GDP grew by 6,5%, reaching 3.341,88 billion EUR. Recent forecasts project continued robust growth and GDP growth of 6,4% for 2025 and 2026. This growth has been supported by structural reforms, strong foreign investment, increasing exports, and prudent fiscal management.
International trade
In global trade, India imported goods worth 648,19 billion EUR in 2024, ranking ninth worldwide, while its exports amounted to 408,91 billion EUR, positioning the country as the 18th largest global exporter. India’s top export sectors by value include fossil fuels, diamonds and gold, electrical machinery and equipment, as well as chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In 2024, its main export destinations are the United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Netherlands, followed by China. On the import side, India relies heavily on crude petroleum, mineral and fossil fuels, electrical machinery and equipment, diamonds and gold, and organic chemicals. The country’s largest supplier remains China, accounting for over fifteen percent of total imports in 2024, with Russia, the UAE, and the US also ranking among its top suppliers. This underlines India’s strong position as both a major exporter and an important global import market.
Politics
India is characterised by its political stability. Since 1950, India has been a democracy and, due to its large population, can rightfully claim to be the world’s largest democracy. The country’s first election was decided in 1952 and is now held every five years. After the elections in the spring of 2024, Prime Minister Modi, a member of the BJP party, began his third term in office.
The government’s key initiatives include the ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, and ‘Skill India’ Programmes, each aiming to boost India’s manufacturing sector, digital development, and workforce skills, respectively.
Business environment & culture
It is relatively easy to start or operate a business in India compared to most other countries in the ranking. In this context, good contacts are essential in South India’s business world, and although South Indian business partners are usually flexible with short-term appointments, early communication via email or SMS is preferred to ensure smooth interactions.
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