Eva Faict

Amazon, the world-renowned e-commerce giant, is driving innovation and growth from the climate-neutral Blue Gate Antwerp business park. Eva Faict, Amazon’s Country Manager for Belgium and the Netherlands, explains how the company supports local entrepreneurs and uses AI and robotics to transforms its operations. She also reveals why Antwerp, and its talented, multicultural business community, are the perfect hub for Amazon's sustainable and digital expansion.

Hi Eva, in March 2025, 8,375 people and over 200 speakers gathered in Antwerp for Supernova 2025, an innovation festival. You were one of those speakers. What motivated you to give a keynote speech at this event?

“As the Country Manager for Amazon in Belgium, I saw this as a unique opportunity to share Amazon's culture of innovation and its potential benefits for Belgian businesses. At Amazon, we operate with a Day 1 mindset, which means we're constantly innovating on behalf of our customers, who are always seeking better experiences. Our Kindle e-reader is a good example of this: what began as a way to make books instantly accessible has evolved, thanks to customer feedback, into a device that has transformed reading worldwide.”

How does this relate to Belgium and its entrepreneurs?

“Belgium is home to incredibly talented entrepreneurs on the cusp of digital transformation, and SuperNova’s focus on innovation aligns perfectly with Amazon’s mission. Just as we’ve evolved from an online bookstore to a global innovator, we see similar potential in Belgian businesses. Whether it’s through our Marketplace, which now accounts for nearly 60% of Amazon sales, or our fulfilment services, we’re helping local businesses reach customers worldwide. Antwerp’s innovative spirit aligns perfectly with Amazon’s culture of experimentation and customer obsession. We want to inspire local entrepreneurs to think big and embrace digital opportunities, while demonstrating our long-term commitment to Belgium’s digital future.”

In your keynote speech, you encouraged small and medium-sized enterprises to collaborate with Amazon. Why should they follow the example of Antwerp-based companies such as Loop Earplugs and Moonbird?

“These companies demonstrate how Belgian innovation can be scaled up globally through e-commerce. Moonbird, for example, started with a simple breathing device and now generates 40% of its sales abroad thanks to Amazon’s marketplace. That’s the power of combining local talent with global reach. However, only 45% of Belgian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sell online. Research shows that those who embrace digital channels reach more customers and significantly increase their turnover. In 2023, Belgian SMEs sold over 10 million products on Amazon, which was a 75% increase on the previous year.  This generated €350 million in export sales and created more than 3,000 jobs. Tools such as Fulfillment by Amazon and the European Expansion Accelerator, make it easier for local businesses to access hundreds of millions of customers across Europe. The opportunity for Belgian SMEs is huge.”

When it comes to innovation, how would you go about reinventing something seemingly 'boring' like warehousing? 

“Innovation has always been part of how we operate, even in areas like warehousing. By introducing AI-powered robots, we have automated repetitive tasks such as moving packages and sorting items. This has created new career paths, and allowed us to invest in upskilling employees for more skilled work. We also use AI to optimise inventory and routing, ensuring faster and more accurate deliveries. At the same time, we’re making our operations more sustainable by reducing packaging, cutting carbon emissions, and designing energy-efficient buildings, like our Blue Gate Antwerp delivery station.”

Why did you choose Antwerp, and specifically Blue Gate, for your expansion  ?

“Antwerp has a prime location, strong infrastructure, and a skilled workforce, making it an ideal location for us  to expand our distribution network in Belgium. Blue Gate stood out for its ability to meet our operational needs while helping us to advance our sustainability goals. The facility is designed to be energy efficient and features solar panels, LED lighting, a smart building management system, 8,000 m² of green space, and a rainwater collection system. It will create over 50 direct jobs, open up opportunities for local delivery partners, and support Amazon’s goal to reach of reaching net-zero carbon by 2040. By integrating this site into our European network, we can deliver quickly and reliably to Belgian customers while minimising our environmental impact.”

You have lived and worked in several international cities. What are your thoughts on Antwerp as a place to do business?

“Antwerp successfully combines its historic strength as Europe's second-largest port with its growing role in e-commerce. I am particularly impressed by how the city thoughtfully balances economic growth with sustainability, as demonstrated by developments like Blue Gate. The city's vibrant entrepreneurial network continues to expand internationally. Its strategic location, multilingual workforce, and innovation-friendly environment create ideal conditions for international business growth.”