Belgium at a Glance

©Raf Vlummens2015

FACTSHEET

FACTSHEET• Capital: Brussels

• Surface area: 30,528 sq. km

• Population: 11 million

• Currency: Euro

• GDP: 524.8 Billion US (2013-source World Bank)

FACTSHEET

• Dutch (+/- 60%)

• French ( +/- 38%)

• German (+/- 2%)

• Brussels Region: bilingual Dutch/French

Belgium’s federal structure

• Belgium is a constitutional monarchy

• Belgium is a federal state made up of 3 communities (Flemish, the Dutch speaking, French and German speaking community and 3 regions:• Brussels Region• Flanders• Wallonia

Belgium’s federal structure• Main powers of the 3 Communities:

• Education• Culture• Youth• Health policy

• Main powers of the Regions:• ‘territorial issues’• Public works• Agriculture• Environment and town/country planning

Belgium’s federal structure

• Conflicts between the different bodies are resolved by the Constitutional Court of Belgium.

• The structure is intended as a compromise to allow different cultures to live together peacefully.

Belgian society• Central location at the crossroads of Latin and Germanic culture

• Multiculturalism • Migrants have always been welcomed

• Pioneering political, social and religious freedoms

• Cosmopolitan character

• Tolerant and multicultural society

Belgium’s cultural heritage

Belgium’s economic structureThe country’s most developed industries include:• Value added logistics • Chemicals and plastics• Life sciences• Aeronautics and space• ICT-software development• Industrial automatisation• Building and engineering• Clean technologies• Creative industries• Diamonds: Antwerp is the world’s diamond capital

Why should you invest in Belgium?1. Open economy2. Gateway to a European market of 500 million consumers3. Logistic springboard4. Top-class, multicultural, multilingual human capital5. Belgium generates and attract brains6. Ease of setting up a business7. Affordable real estate8. Great educational system9. Very affordable health care accessible for everybody10. A great place to live!

Your company and BelgiumAdvisorsWe can assist you with:

• Market intelligence about the Belgian/European market for your products• An assessment of the opportunities of the setup of your company in

Belgium• The incorporation of your company• The application for permanent residence in Belgium for the company

director and his family (spouse and children -18 y/o)

Contact BelgiumAdvisors

theBigBelgian@gmail.com

www.BelgiumAdvisors.com