Brussels is an ideal starting point for any business looking to expand in Europe. If you are looking at your international business strategy and wondering what to do next, contact SME Strategy to see how your company would do by investing in Brussels.

1. Brussels – Springboard for Europe
Invest in Brussels

2. BELGIUM
At the boarder of 3 main European cultures
• 10,8 million inhabitants
• Official languages:
French, Dutch, German
• Independant since 1830
• Federal state since 1981
• Head of state:
King Philippe I
• Capital: Brussels
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3. BELGIUM
Federal state made of 3 Regions
Main competences
of Belgian Regions:
• Economic policy
& Foreign Trade
• Region development
& Town planning
• Transport
• Scientific research
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4. BRUSSELS
As a region
Brussels-capital region:
• 19 municipalities
• 162 km²
• 1,1 million inhabitants
• 30% foreigners
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5. 7 MAIN ADVANTAGES
Springboard for a Pan-European development
Global gateway to key
markets/ Ideal test market
Accessibility from
all Europe & Worldwide
International decision center
International talent pool
and innovation centre
Competitive real estate
Advantageous business
environment
High quality of life

6. GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS
A perfect assessment market
• Gateway to European market (Port of Antwerp)
• Multi-cultural population
• European diversity challenge on a small scale
Exportation
74% GDP
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Importation
72% GDP
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7. GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS
Successful test in Belgium = successful test in Europe
H&M maintains a pilot store in Belgium
in order to market-test all its newest
clothing collections.
The Coca-Cola compagny has tested
over 1,000 products in Belgium,
including the well-received Coca-Cola
Light Sango cola and Fanta World
Mango product in 2006.
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8. ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW
Brussels - Connected to Europe
75 %
of the EU
Market (GDP)
40 %
of the
consumers
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9. ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW
European High Speed Trains
Air connections
•Paris – 1 hour 20
19 connections / day
•Located at 12 km from the Brussels city
centre
•London – 1 hour 55
16 connections / day
•225 passenger connections, including
135 to Europe
•Amsterdam – 1 hour 55
10 connections / day
•41 « cargo only » destinations worldwide
•Francfort – 3 hour
4 connections / day
•Best European Airport (World Routes
2010)
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10. INTERNATIONAL DECISION CENTER
NATO/WEU
Worldwide Press
Center
(1200 journalists)
Diplomatic Heartland
(5300 diplomats)
EU Institutions
NGO Community
Industry/Corporate
Centre
(1500 federations)
World’s 2nd most important
conference centre
(Union of International Associations, 2012)
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11. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL
Major multinationals have their
decision center in Brussels
• Approx. 1.300 foreign companies have
set-up European HQ or sales subsidiary in
Brussels
• Quoted as 6th business city in Europe,
after London, Paris and Frankfurt, (Cushman
& Wakefield Cities Monitor 2011)
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12. TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
Human resources
Brussels workforce is highly multilingual
• Brussels is a bi-lingual city (french – dutch)
• The presence of several international
organisations attracts large panel of foreigners
(30% of the population)
• English proficiency Index: Brussels 6th on
world basis (Education First, 2012)
• 2nd European city in terms of number of
languages spoken (European cities monitor,
2010)
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13. TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
University degree
Source: IMD World Competitiveness 2012 / 1-to-10 score
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14. TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
EU Innovation Performance
EU member states’ innovation performance
Source: EU Commission, DG Enterprise, 2011
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15. COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE
Cost-effective Office Market
Office (prime rent location)
Cushman & Wakefield, Office space across the world 2012
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16. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Cost-effective tax regime
1. Tax incentive to risk capital :
Notional Interest Deduction
Principle
Consequences
Companies are allowed to claim a notional
interest deduction reflecting the economic cost
of using capital, equal to LT risk free financing.
Reduced effective tax rate
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17. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Cost-effective tax regime
2. Fiscal Ruling
Principle
Consequences
Scope of
applications
The investor describes the facts, allowing the
tax administration to determine, in advance,
how the tax laws are to be applied on a case
by case basis
• Confidence to invest
• Legally binding & accurate forecast
Corporate tax, individuals tax, customs, VAT,
etc.
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18. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Cost-effective tax regime
3. Foreign executive status
For the EMPLOYEE :
For the EMPLOYER :
•
Exclusion of days
performed outside
Belgium
•
•
Tax free allowances
(relating to extra
costs resulting from
the Belgian
employment)
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Reduction of
employment cost for
expat’s
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19. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Cost-effective tax regime
3. Foreign executive status
Annual gross salary: EUR 75,000
Taxable:
Tax free allowances:
Annual gross:
75,000
Cost of living:
2,500
Social security:
-9,800
Housing differential:
2,674
Tax free allow:
-9,662
Tax equalisation:
4,488
Balance
55,538
40% travel:
-22,215
Gross taxable:
9,662
33,323
Tax due: EUR 9,997 or approx.
13% of gross salary
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20. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
No restrictions for foreigners
• open economy: Belgium features a liberal
business environment
• Belgium is tops for attracting foreign graduates
and professionals (Deloitte, Comparative
Immigration Study 2011)
• no permission needed to set up a company
• 100% foreign ownership is possible
• no limitation on repatriation of capital and
benefits
• approximate incorporation fee (for a SA/NV):
1500 €
• easyness to set up a company
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21. HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE
Brussels residential - High standards at competitive rates
Average rent in urban location (appartment 120m2)
Source: The Global Property Guide, Rental Yields, 2012
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22. HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE
An OPEN city for the expat
• 140.000 European
foreigners live in Brussels
• Life cost is cheaper than
in most of the other
European capitals
• Wide range of
international schools,
offering English and
American programs
• High quality health care
system
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23. BRUSSELS INVEST & EXPORT
Promotes, attracts and retains foreign direct investments in
Brussels
• Funded by the Brussels-Capital
Region
• Created in 2003
• Team composed of 50
employees
• High level network within
Brussels
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24. OUR SERVICES
Contact point for the foreign investors in Brussels
We can bring support in the following areas:
• Tax and legal advices
• Company registration
• Build up local high level network
• Prospection of an office or a site
• Funding & public financial support
• Guidance to public bodies
• Recruitment & employment legislation
• Sectoral expertise & market intelligence
• Technological transnational partnerships
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25. TRY IT!
With the Brussels Business Welcome Package
Our offer to foreign investors
Opportunity to « test »
Opportunity to « test »
Brussels
Brussels
Easy access to Brussels
Easy access to Brussels
Invest & Export business
Invest & Export business
Experts and partners
Experts and partners
Evaluate the potential of
Evaluate the potential of
your
your
project in loco
project in loco
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26. INVEST IN BRUSSELS TO SUPPORT YOU…
Before & after investment decision
• A portal for all the foreign investors in Brussels
www.investinbrussels.com
• How to set-up and manage your company in Brussels:
www.abe.irisnet.be
• Government and European financial support
www.ecosubsibru.be
• All you need to know if you want to do tourism or
organise a congress in Brussels
www.visitbrussels.be
• Find the ideal location in Brussels
www.sdrb.irisnet.be
• The Brussels Chamber of Commerce
www.beci.be
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27. INVEST IN BRUSSELS
C/O Brussels Invest & Export
Avenue Louise, 500
1050 Brussels
+32 (0)2 800 40 63
www.investinbrussels.com
Copyright Brussels Invest & Export, Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Invest in Brussels
Anthony Taylor
Canadian Consultant
Anthony@smestrategy.net
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28. We look forward to
welcoming you in
Brussels
TRY IT !
With the Brussels Business
Welcome Package
During 3 months:
Free of charge Office
+
Free of charge Support
Assess all the assets of
Brussels with real fact