 The pioneers of the UWE, were, to name a few, Jules Delruelle (Prayon), George Halbart (Magotteaux), George Henry (Glaverbel), Pierre Holoffe (Asphaltco), Leon Jacques (Carrières de Quenast) Jean Lannoye (Papeteries de Genval), Jules Plaquet (Compagnie des Ciments Belges), Alfred Putzeys (Pieux Franki).Together they decided, at the end of 1967, to invite a hundred company managers to a meeting, the result of which was to create the "Walloon Union of Companies" (rather than the "Union of Walloon Companies"), in this way allowing the many foreign companies established in the Walloon Area to join the organization.It is also decided to open the organization to both the industrial and non-industrial sectors.