The week in business: 18 September

Cars – Audi
The government of Flanders is co-operating with the country’s other regions on €27 million in aid for research and development to help Audi develop an electric vehicle on its Vorst site in Brussels.

Chemicals – Solvay
The Brussels-based chemicals and plastics group has inaugurated a €20 million sodium bicarbonate production unit in Thailand to supply the health, food and consumer goods markets in southeast Asia.

Distribution – Nike
The US-based sport equipment and garments group is investing a further €60 million in its European Logistics Centre in Ham, Limburg. The additional storage and handling capacity will be in operation by next June. The company is already in the process of building additional storage space on the site, which currently handles 180 million items a year.

Handling – Sea Invest
The Ghent-based stevedoring and handling group is investing €300 million in the Ivory Coast on projects that include a logistic centre and bulk terminal in the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro.

Steel – Arcelor Mittal
The UK-based steel group is investing €140 million in its Ghent production unit to build a dedicated Fortiform cold-stamped steel production unit to supply the automotive industry with lighter and more resistant ranges of steel.

Transport – Electric Valley
The French manufacturer distributor of electricity-powered bicycles, Segways and YikeBikes is opening a flagship store in Brussels later this year. A similar outlet is scheduled for Antwerp in the first half of 2016.