The Amazon Export Pledge plans to help Belgian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) reach cumulative export sales of over €2 billion by the end of 2030, supporting Belgium's Federal Action Plan on eCommerce.
Helping local businesses is a central pillar of Amazon's €1 billion+ investment in Belgium through 2027. The Export Pledge is launched through a Memorandum of Understanding between Amazon, Becom (the Belgian eCommerce Federation), and the Belgian Federal Government. Working together, the signatories will help accelerate Belgian SME export growth: Amazon invests in the tools and infrastructure to help sellers scale internationally; Becom drives SME export readiness through training and best practices, and the Federal Government launches a structured dialogue to tackle the cross-border challenges SMEs face.
“Belgium is a country of entrepreneurs, and e-commerce must be an opportunity for growth. With our Federal E-commerce+ Action Plan, we are working towards an e-commerce environment where consumers are protected and Belgian businesses can compete on equal terms. But fair competition is not enough. We must also give our entrepreneurs the tools and opportunities to succeed. Today’s Memorandum of Understanding with Amazon and Becom is a concrete step in that direction. By bringing together public and private partners, we aim to remove barriers to cross-border trade, help our businesses seize new opportunities and grow internationally,” declared David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for the Economy.
In 2025, more than 90% of the Belgian small and medium enterprises selling in the Amazon store exported to customers around the world, generating over €400 million in export sales in 2025. Over 75% exported to other EU member states, recording more than €190 million in export sales. This digital transformation has created significant employment opportunities: Belgian SMEs selling in the Amazon store have created over 3,000 jobs in Belgium to support their business online.
The positive impact of exporting reaches every corner of the country. Flanders leads with the highest number of SMEs selling in the Amazon store and over €230 million in export sales. In Wallonia, export sales reached more than €125 million, and in Brussels, selling partners generated more than €50 million in exports. Together, these businesses shipped over 10 million products.
"In 2025, Belgians spent €18.3 billion shopping online, and more than 9 out of 10 made at least one online purchase. E-commerce has clearly become part of everyday life in Belgium. Our goal is to ensure that our SMEs can seize the benefits of this growing channel. To do so, they need access to the right tools to sell online, reach new customers and expand beyond our borders. SMEs are at the heart of our economic competitiveness, and we must make sure they are equipped to compete in the digital economy. That is precisely the aim of this MoU," said Eléonore Simonet, Belgian Minister for SMEs, Self-Employed and Small Businesses.
“Two brothers in Brussels with bamboo straws don’t usually open shops in several countries. With Amazon, a single listing put us in front of millions of shoppers in multiple countries at once. It made us an exporter from day one, and that reach is what lets our products make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Maxime de Hemptinne, Co-CEO of Bambaw Group, selling in the Amazon store.
“When you’re approaching your domestic limits, internationalization becomes a key pillar for future growth of Belgian SMEs. For Acaza, Amazon is the natural choice that allows us to expand beyond the Benelux”, said Thomas Delanote, CEO of Acaza, selling in the Amazon store.
"With over two decades of experience helping sellers around the world grow and reach new customers internationally, we've seen first-hand how digitalization and international expansion can transform a small business, creating jobs and generating prosperity in local communities. Today, together with the Belgian Federal Government and Becom, we're strengthening that commitment: helping Belgian SMEs grow beyond our borders and building a more digital, more competitive Belgium with more opportunities for everyone," declared James Waterworth, EU Public Policy Director.
“Online retail is one of the most powerful levers for Belgian companies’ international expansion, and it’s time our entrepreneurs fully embrace that potential. Today’s Memorandum of Understanding between Becom, Amazon, and the Federal Government is a first step in formalizing that ambition, and we hope other stores will follow with similar commitments. Together, we will work to remove cross-border barriers so Belgian SMEs can grow their exports online. Becom is here to make sure these businesses are seen, supported, and equipped with the digital skills to compete confidently in a globalized environment,” said Greet Dekocker, Managing Director, Becom.
With exports of goods and services representing 75.5% of GDP in 2025[1], Belgium's economy is built on trade. The share of Belgian enterprises selling online has grown by more than 50% since 2013[2], and with Belgium ranking among Europe's most digitally advanced SME countries[3], Belgian SMEs are well placed to grow their exports further.
Leveling the playing field: from AI to logistics, powering Belgian SMEs
Amazon supports local businesses at every stage of the export journey, from getting started to scaling globally. Today, AI is transforming how small businesses compete internationally, and the opportunity is significant.
According to the OECD D4SME Survey, AI adoption among European SMEs has more than doubled from 7% in 2023 to 17% in 2025, with 91% of those using generative AI reporting productivity gains. In Belgium, the momentum is even stronger: 62% of businesses have adopted AI — well above the European average of 54% — and 79% of adopters report productivity gains[4]. Yet, 55%[5] of Belgian SMEs remain hesitant to sell their products online.
Amazon is investing to close that gap, helping Belgian SMEs expand internationally in three ways: with AI, with logistics, and with reach. Amazon tools like Enhance My Listing analyse live product listings and recommend improvements that sellers can accept with a click, while AI Creative Studio, available to Belgian selling partners in international Amazon stores, generates professional-grade images, videos, and 30-second advertisements at no additional cost.
On the logistics side, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) lets sellers send their products to Amazon, which stores, picks, packs, ships, and handles customer service and returns, removing the supply chain barrier that stops many small businesses from selling across borders.
And through Amazon Global Selling, sellers can reach hundreds of millions of customers worldwide, with automated translation for listings, currency conversion for pricing and disbursements, and cost-effective product movement simplifying every step of cross-border selling.
Underpinning this is a broader investment in digital skills: AWS has trained more than 38,000 people in Belgium in cloud skills since 2017, helping build the talent pipeline that supports the country's export ambitions. To get started, selling partners in Belgium can sign up for a free 12-month Amazon Quick Plus subscription through December 31, 2026, to help them run their business on and off Amazon.
Amazon's Export Pledge comes at a pivotal moment for Belgian businesses. SMEs represent 99.8% of all enterprises in the EU and employ 66%[6] of Belgium's private-sector workforce, forming the backbone of the Belgian economy. Aligned with Minister Simonet's 2026 SME Plan and its focus on e-commerce education, the Export Pledge marks a new chapter for Belgian entrepreneurs looking to grow beyond borders. To learn more about how Amazon supports Belgian SMEs, visit sell.amazon.com.be.
