Belgium

Belgium lies in northwest Europe and is bordered by the Netherlands, France, Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Distance is, of course, a relative term, as Paris, London and Amsterdam are a two-hour train ride from Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union.

Belgium,  A Country of Regions

Belgium is located at the interface of the major European hubs of economic and urban activity and the world's primary seaboard, the North Sea. As such, it lies not only within one of the most populous and trade intensive regions on the planet but also along a key economic and urban axis. Belgium is a federal state made up of three Communities (the French Community, the Flemish Community and the German-speaking Community) and three Regions (the Brussels-Capital Region in the centre, which is officially bilingual, the Flemish Region to the north, which is Dutch-speaking and the Walloon Region to the south, which is French and German-speaking). The main federal institutions are the federal government and the federal parliament (with a Chamber of Representatives and a Senate). The Communities and Regions also have their own legislative and executive authority. The three Communities in Belgium (The Flemish, French and German ones) are defined on the basis of their language. The Communities enjoy powers over various policy areas, such as education, culture and what are referred to as «social matters», such as family/child support and certain aspects of healthcare. The three Regions (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels-Capital Regions) focus more on locally-based issues and their powers extend primarily to considerations of an economic nature such as public works, agriculture, employment, land-use planning and the environment.

A Constitutional and Hereditary Monarchy

As Belgium is a constitutional monarchy, the latter's role is defined and enshrined in the Constitution. The head of state is the King, who is the King of the Belgians. The Constitution lays down the King's legal status and the hereditary succession. In the event of a succession, the King's constitutional authority is passed on to the natural and legal direct descendant. The King takes power only after he has solemnly taken a constitutional oath during a joint meeting of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate. This has to be taken 10 days after the death or retirement of his predecessor.

A Country Full of Creative Talent

Belgium boasts a great deal of creative talent. John Cockerill supplied customers all over the world with steam locomotives, steamboats, trams, blast furnaces and other heavy industrial equipment. The dynamo, soda and Bakelite, and many other practical applications were all invented by Belgians or people of Belgian origin, and today's rapidly evolving industry is continuing this tradition.  Such well-known artists as Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel, Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van der Weyden and Antoon Van Dyck - to mention just a few of the Flemish masters - rose to prominence in the land that would one day become Belgium. Their paintings are to be found all over the world but some of their finest works are on display in a number of Belgium's museums. James Ensor, Felicien Rops, Theo Van Rysselberghe, Paul Delvaux and Rene Magritte are also internationally famous Belgian artists. Cartoon strips are considered an art in their own right in Belgium and the latter boasts the greatest number of cartoonists of any country in the world, talented artists following in the footsteps of revered predecessors such as Herqe (Tintin), Peyo (the Smurfs), Edgar P. Jacobs and Bob De Moor (Blake and Mortimer), Morris (Lucky Luke) and many others. During the Middle- Ages, cathedrals and belfries sprang up all over Belgium and can still be admired today in many art cities across the country. Countless castles are to be found dotted all over the Belgian countryside and come the 20'h century, the city of Brussels became synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement. All of these buildings have helped to define the country's incredible wealth of architectural triumphs. Fine arts, folklore, fashion, design ... Reflections of the past or future trends, these are all areas where Belgian talent holds sway. And of course Belgians really appreciate top cuisine, relishing the country's mouth-watering and long-standing culinary traditions.

A Dynamic Economy

With its good climate, natural resources, rapidly expanding sectors and central location, Belgium enjoys a key position on the European and international stage. The country boasts considerable expertise in a wide range of fields - expertise which has largely been the driving force behind its success. Industrial activity in Belgium originally centred around heavy industry associated with the mining and processing of its underground resources. However, the country succeeded in making a smooth entry into other key industrial sectors, paving the way for and promoting economic growth in Europe. New sectors continued to spring up throughout the 20th century following the arrival in Belgium of leading groups in a variety of sectors including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nano-electronics, automobile manufacturing and household goods among others ... Activity in these new sectors has long ensured considerable socio-economic diversity in Belgium and in so doing has promoted the growth of subcontracting and an efficient service sector offering substantial added value. Following in its own footsteps as the first country in Continental Europe to embrace the industrial revolution, Belgium has made the most of its geographical location as a gateway to its key neighbours and at the very heart of all Europe's markets. 

WHY BELGIUM? 

Belgium's federal and regional public authorities are conscious of the relevance of foreign investment for the economic wellbeing of the country.

Belgium's Advantages

One could summarize Belgium's investment climate by "extremely healthy". It is indeed characterized by stable political and social conditions, a well-developed financial infra- structure, a highly qualified multilingual work- force renowned for its openness and its high productivity and little public sector interference with business. You will be welcomed by a multilingual population and seduced by the multicultural character of the country.  

A Strategic Location

Europe shows a zone that has a spine running from Liverpool in the North of the U K to Genoa in the North of Italy, 1500 km long and 200 km wide. This zone concentrates 65% of Europe's economic activity and contains 70 million inhabitants. Belgium is located precisely at the heart of it. From a political point of view, Belgium's central position is illustrated by hosting not only a number of EU institutions (such as the headquarters of the Council and the Commission) but also NATO and several international organizations and many multinational companies.

An Outstanding Business Infrastructure

In order to benefit from natural and historical location factors, a host country for foreign investments should dispose of a first class infrastructure: so does Belgium ! The HST (High-Speed Train) network links Brussels to London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris (Brussels - Paris in 1 h25, Brussels - London in 2h00). The Belgian motorway system is one of the most modern in Europe. Every mile of highway is lit all night and toll-free. Seven international expressways connect the French, German and Dutch motorways. The proximity of the Eurotunnel (linking the continent to the UK) is an additional asset. Belgium offers world-class water transport facilities with the ports of Antwerp (second largest seaport in Europe), Zeebrugge, Ghent and the inland ports of Liege and Brussels, Liege being the second European inland port. These ports receive and dispatch seaborne freight bound for worldwide destinations. Brussels National Airport is the fifth largest cargo airport in Europe, with the fastest air cargo handling and distribution center in the European Union. In this era where fast and secure data transfer is perhaps the critical success factor, Belgium's state-of-the-art telecommunication system has been a major factor in attracting many of the world's leading multinational companies. The country has a 90% cable penetration, an advanced fiber optic network in place offering large bandwidth, complemented with low-cost long-distance tele-charges. The internet-ready environment, government commitment to e-business and the technologically skilled population complete the package. Belgium's ICT infrastructure guarantees effectiveness and profitability in servicing your global customers.

Other Advantages of Belgium

Although a central location supported by an excellent business infrastructure is important when choosing a site location, other advantages should enhance this choice: Belgium has got them!

When discussing the location of a future investment project, it should not be forgotten that human resources are crucial to succeed in any enterprise. The Belgian workforce is well known for its high level of productivity, flexibility, multilingualism, adaptability to foreign working styles and environments, and the high percentage of young people with an academic degree. Universities and technical colleges have links to the business sector to ensure that training and research anticipate the needs of the global market- place. The presence of over 100 financial institutions, Euronext (the Amsterdam-Paris- Brussels pan-European stock exchange), venture capital companies and business angel networks provide the framework to finance investment projects in the most efficient way.

Fiscal and Financial Incentives

Perhaps the most important incentive is Belgium's long-standing tradition of welcoming foreign investments. The general principle is one of "global equity": no discrimination is made between domestic and foreign companies.

A Standard of Living that is the Envy of All

Everything a person needs is easily accessible in Belgium: public services, culture, education, transport and above all the Belgians themselves with their reputation for good living. The first sign of the standard of living in a country is of course its socio-economic situation, and rich mature fruits do not grow on arid land. In this regard, the extraordinarily vigorous nature of the Belgian economy comes down to the fact that this small country measuring only 30.528 km2 (in 148th place in the world) has ranked among the 25 largest global economic powers since the 19th century, ahead of more densely populated countries such as Poland, Argentina or Thailand. This prosperity has enabled Belgium to take a place among countries with the highest standards of living. For several years now, Belgium has ranked 18th in the Human Development Report, part of the United Nations Development Programme. This ranking is based principally on living standards, life expectancy and level of education. In addition to having succeeded in creating the basic ingredients needed for a good standard of living (democratic society, good schools and universities, one of the best healthcare systems in the world, modern infrastructures, etc.) Belgium also has a number of more specific assets, often mentioned by people for whom Belgium is their country of adoption.

INDUSTRIAL DYNAMISM OF BELGIUM

One of the Largest Chemical Clusters in the World

Since the eighteenth century, Belgium has been a home port for the chemical industry, thanks in particular to the major innovations and key role of pioneers such as Ernest Solvay (prominent industrialist, founder of the chemicals group that bears his name and inventor of a process for manufacturing soda ash, which revolutionized the metallurgical and glass-making industries), Lieven Gevaert (industrialist who established the Agfa-Gevaert group, a pioneer of photographic film) or Leo Hendrik Baekeland (who gave his name to Bakelite, a new type of plastic). Today, chemistry is still a dominant sector in the Belgian economy, generating more than 20% of all Belgian exports. The country's chemical industry represents more than 8% of European turnover in this sector and 17% of European exports of chemical products. Flanders is also home to the largest petrochemical centre in Europe, being the main hub of Western Europe's network of oil pipelines. The Belgian chemical industry encompasses a wide range of activities, such as organic and inorganic chemistry, pharmaceutical products, biotechnologies, products for agriculture, paints, glues, varnishes and inks, soaps, detergents and cosmetics, the transformation of plastics, rubber and sundry other chemical products (notably for photography). World leaders in chemistry such as BASF, Bayer, Borealis, BP, Chevron, DuPont, Eval (Kuraray), Ineos, Kaneka, McBride, Monsanto and Nippon Shokubai are established in Belgium, some since many decades ago. The Belgian chemical sector can also rely on the international influence of leading Belgian enterprises. The Solvay Group is a world leader in chemistry (soda ash, chlorine, detergents, etc.) and plastics. Tessenderlo Group is another flag-bearer of the Belgian chemical industry, manufacturing specialist chemical products for the agrifood sectors. One of the world leaders in petrochemicals, Total Petrochemicals, has its headquarters in Brussels and major production and R&D sites in the south of the country. It mainly produces polymers, which form the basis of numerous products that are indispensable in our modern life.

An Agent of Sustainable Development

The entire Belgian chemical sector continues to improve its level of sustainability through the use of materials, packaging and detergents that are both more efficient and more environmentally friendly. One Belgian company that has succeeded perfectly in making this transformation to more sustainable and environmentally friendly products is Umicore. This company evolved to become a leader in the manufacture of catalysts for the automotive industry, the development of more efficient materials from an energy point of view (especially new types of battery) and the recycling of precious metals.

Metallurgical Industry with Higher Added Value

Belgian companies of all sizes occupy enviable positions in one of the many segments of the metallurgical industry, be it iron and steel, the manufacture of pipes and cables, casting, the manufacture of metal elements for construction, the production of alloys, cutlery, the manufacturer of steam generators, industrial furnaces, arms and munitions, etc. International players in the iron and steel industry have several production sites in Belgium, at Charleroi, Liege, La Louviere and Ghent, which keeps Belgium among the biggest exporters of steel in the world. One of the best examples of industrial success "Made in Belgium" is without doubt the Bekaert Group, which specializes in the advanced transformation of metals and materials, wire products and advanced surfacing materials. The group works in the automobile, construction, glass-making, textile, chemistry and agriculture sectors. Companies that have been highly successful in adapting to changes in the metallurgical sector also include CMI (Cockerill Maintenance & Igénierie), which supplies both equipment (rolling mills, boilers, processing lines) and services with a high added value to various sectors (energy, defense, iron and steel, etc.) or Betafence, specializing in metal fencing systems (also see our chapter on construction).

Specialists in Lime and Cement

A long tradition of extractive industry combined with the dynamism of the construction sector in Belgium also explains the presence in Belgium of three world leaders in the cement sector. These are the cement factories CRB (of Belgian origin, part of the Heidelberg Group), CCB (Belgian subsidiary of the Italian Italcementi Group) and the Swiss Holcim Group, which has around thirty operational sites in Belgium. The Belgian company Magotteaux, owned by the Chilean mining group Sigdo Koppers, plays a leading role upstream of the extractive industries.

A Long Tradition in Textiles

The Belgian textile industry, like the metallurgical industry remains one of the important contributors to Belgian exports. There are around 500 textile companies in Belgium, present in five main sub-sectors: interior textiles, clothing textiles, technical textiles, textile ennobling and spinning. To deal with increasing international competition, the textiles industries sector is focusing more and more on products with a high added value, such as technical textiles (for agriculture and construction in particular but also the automotive industry and so on) and interior textiles, while showing a growing interest in the environment and the production of new, more energy-efficient products.

A Glass-Making Industry at the Forefront of Innovation

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Belgium was among the biggest glass- making powers. The first glass-stretching machine was invented by Belgians Emile Gobbe and Emile Fourcault in 1902. Since the appearance of "float glass" in the 1960s and rapid industrialisation, many of the small artisanal glass-makers have disappeared, but Belgian know-how has lived on through large companies such as Glaverbel or Glaciers Saint-Roch. These jewels of the Belgian glass-making industry have since been bought out, by the Japanese group Asahi Glass and the French group Saint-Gobain respectively, but still represent important centres of production and innovation.

Jewels of the Aeronautics Sector

Finally, the aeronautics sector is an essential element of the Belgian industrial landscape. For many years now, the world's largest manufacturers (Boeing, Airbus and Embraer among others) as well as the main engine manufacturers (Pratt & Whitney, GE, Snecma, etc.) have put their trust in Belgian suppliers for the design, simulation and manufacturing of engine parts (TechSpace Aero), of leading edges of wings and fuselage parts (Sonaca), of electromechanical assemblies and systems (SABCA) and of control monitors (Barco). In addition to these major companies, Belgium has a rich fabric of SMEs active in very specific areas: sophisticated fuselage parts, software components for managing geo-spatial information, complex mechanical assemblies of a high degree of precision, advanced optical, mechanical and opto-mechanical systems, etc. Belgian companies have leading expertise in the aerospace industry, the cousin of aeronautics, especially in satellite components. Belgium is also one of the main European contributors to aerospace research via the European Space Agency (ESA).

HEALTHCARE & BIOTECH IN BELGIUM 

The country is among the highest ranked countries in the world in terms of R&D investment

In a research-friendly context, and also thanks to exceptional scientists like Paul Janssen (recently voted "greatest Belgian scientist") and thousands of other researchers within such flagships as Janssen Pharmaceutica (Johnson & Johnson) UCB, Omega Pharma or GSK Biologicals, Belgium has been a spearhead of the pharmaceutical industry for many decades. For example, the country holds the world record for the number of drugs under development in relation to the number of inhabitants (16.2 drugs per million inhabitants). The Belgian pharmaceutical sector, which employs over 30,000 people, or 5% of all private sector employment in Belgium, is responsible for no less than 11 % of the country's exports. Germany is the only other OECD country which does better.

A Dynamic Market for Medicines

In Belgium itself, the drugs market, while mature, has continued to grow in recent years (+5.3% average growth since the beginning of the new millennium), relying on a highly efficient health care system. In recent years, the hospital market (medication sold in hospitals) has experienced stronger growth than the outpatient market (sales in pharmacies), which nevertheless constitutes the bulk of sales (over 70%). The last few years have seen a significant increase in the market share of generic medicines, which now exceeds 10% of the ambulatory market. In total, the Belgian drug market excluding exports, is therefore estimated to be worth 4.5 billion euros.

Third Place in Europe

In fact, Belgium has the highest concentration of life science researchers in the world. Nature magazine has ranked Belgium among the world's TOP 10 most innovative "pharma valleys". In total, nearly 200 biotechnology companies operate in Belgium (constituting 7% of European biotechnology companies). Belgian companies are responsible for 16% of European turnover and almost 10% of research and development spending. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Belgium ranks third in Europe in terms of the market capitalization of biotechnology companies listed on the stock market. The market capitalization of its biotechnology companies is, on average, five times higher than that of the biotechnology companies of the other countries in the top 5.

R&D Champion

In Flanders, research companies and institutes are concentrated in Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen. One of the biggest drivers of scientific research is the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VI B). The FlandersBio research institute is also a leading player. Biotechnology, moreover, comes in third place in terms of R&D investment in Flanders. According to a study by the OECD, the Flemish region has an "R&D intensity" in biotechnologies of 0.44%, which makes it the global leader for this criterion. R&D intensity is defined as the share of R&D expenditure devoted to biotechnologies in relation to the total added value of the industrial sector. In the (bio)pharmaceutical sector, Flanders has won acclaim thanks to its local flagship Janssen Pharmaceutica, founded by the distinguished scientist Paul Janssen, mentioned above, and which is, today, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Moreover, the biopharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca, Alcon, Schering-Plough and Pfizer also have leading production plants as well as global or pan-European distribution centres in the region. As well as big names like Johnson & Johnson or (bio) pharmaceutical leaders such as AstraZeneca, Alcon, Schering-Plough or Pfizer, university spin-offs like Innogenetics, DevGen, Tibotec, Thrombogenics, Virco, Ablynx, Tigenix and CropDesign have developed to such an extent that they are establishing an international reputation in their own right. In addition, both public and private venture capital funds contribute the financial support necessary to maintain the virtuous circle.

Open Innovation

Wallonia has also inherited a long tradition of scientific innovation and has become a pioneering region for life sciences in its own right. More than one quarter of the 70,000 students and one fifth of the 5,200 doctoral candidates in the universities of the south of the country are involved with these specialities. Wallonia is benefiting from the major pharmacy players' diversification into bio-pharmacy, based on the idea that bio- technologies will become the norm for the pharmacy of tomorrow. A key driver is, unquestionably, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, the "vaccines" centre for the GSK group, which has both its headquarters and its main R&D centres in Belgium.

Cancer Treatment

Another major company born of the local scientific and industrial fabric is the bio-pharma company UCB, specializing in immunology and diseases of the central nervous system. Yet another is IBA (Ion Beam Applications), the world leader in proton therapy (using radio isotopes) in order to diagnose and treat cancers better. These Belgian companies interact with the big names in global bio-pharmacy. Baxter (bio-pharmacy, medical equipment) has for example been active in Wallonia for over 30 years (R&D and production) and continues to invest in the region for the long-term. Although more modest in size, the Brussels- Capital region has also developed a very attractive, emerging biotechnology sector. Here too, the success of the activities is due to the close collaboration between universities and the industrial sector, as well as to the support of the regional authorities. The "Biotech in Brussels" initiative brings together a mass of information on biotechnologies in the Belgian capital. One of the rising stars in the Brussels biotechnology sector is BETA-CELL, which specializes in the production of therapeutic cells for treating diabetes.

Distinguished Biologists

This diversification into biotechnologies has been facilitated by significant discoveries over the last 30 years in the fields of molecular biology, genetics and botany. Distinguished researchers, such as Christian de Duve, Albert Claude (both winners of the Nobel Prize for Medicine), Waiter Fiers, Marc Van Montagu, Jeff Schell and Desire Collen were the source of major breakthroughs, such as the discovery of the first genetic sequence, the first techno- logy for the transformation of plants and the fantastic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, a protein that makes it possible to cure thrombosis), which has enabled many lives to be saved. At the end of the 1990s and during the 2000s, the work of the researcher Catherine Verfaillie made it possible to further knowledge on stem cells, thereby benefiting cell therapies.

Andreas Vesalius, Father of Modern Medicine

Belgium is currently commemorating the 500th anniversary of Andreas Van Wesel, much better known as Vesalius. Vesalius was born in 1514 in Brussels and is considered today as the father of modern medicine. Often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy, he was the first to take a scientific approach to the human body and to examine its organ structure with such precision.

His book De Humanis Corporis Fabrica (1543) is believed to be one of the most influential medicine books of all time. It was a revolutionary work, the first in history to give an accurate description of human anatomy. Vesalius completely overturned all medical knowledge about the body. He relied on his own empirical observations rather than on bookish learning. The book marked the birth of modern medical science and laid the foundations for all later anatomical and physiological research.

Vesalius showed how blood vessels and nerve bundles often run side by side. What was a chance discovery for Vesalius proved to have a scientific basis? Building on this, Belgian laboratories and research companies today continue to study the molecular mechanism responsible for this, and its therapeutic implications.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN BELGIUM

Belgium can pride itself on an unparalleled gastronomic and culinary heritage.

World-famous products of the Belgian food industry unquestionably include chocolates, together with the numerous varieties of beer (ordinary table beer, the widest possible range of regional abbey and Trappist beers) and the upmarket prepared meat products manufactured by an industry which is structurally export-oriented.

A Dynamic Sector

The Belgian Food Processing Industry ranks second (as far as employment is concerned) and second (as to turn-over) among the big Belgian industrial branches. It exports about 50% of its production (including meat). With a total work-force of about 90,000, the Belgian food industry is the second biggest provider of employment in the processing industry. The Belgian food and drink industry is also characterized by the strong presence of dynamic small and medium-sized businesses which often have more than one trick up their sleeve.

Modern Production

The Belgian food industry's production facilities are recent and its modern production units are particularly efficient. These facilities are capable of producing large quantities quickly and of storing them. In order to have such facilities firms have invested heavily and indeed are continuing to do so, as witness the rising tide of investment in the food industry. A large proportion is earmarked for extension projects, as increased production capacity enables stable and lasting growth to be ensured. Belgian firms have the added advantage of being able to dispatch and export their products quickly. Located as it is at the heart of Europe, Belgium has an extremely dense road and rail network, plus an excellent harbour infrastructure.

Foreign Trade

The agrifood sector in Belgium is export-oriented, with more than 50% of the production destined for foreign markets. Similarly, more than 50% of food products available in Belgium are imported. Belgium is an attractive entry point for agricultural exporters due to its thriving food processing industry. This attracts much international bulk and intermediate goods, which are then processed and distributed within the country and to other EU countries through Belgium's extensive distribution net- work.

Belgium currently imports more than 50 percent of the organic food it consumes. This is expected to increase as demand for prepared meals and a more diverse range of products rises. The Belgian market offers good opportunities and has enjoyed considerable growth in recent years in the following areas: health and organic foods, energy foods and sports drinks, snack foods, ethnic foods, ready- made and microwave products, frozen and fresh food and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, wine, specialty meats such as bison and pet food, seafood, and specialty products (e.g. kosher food, wild rice, maple products and other confectionery goods etc.)

Belgian chocolate, confectionery & biscuits: In per capita terms Belgium is the world's leading exporter of chocolates.

Belgian Chocolate Owes its Reputation to the Quality of its Ingredients ...

- dominant use of full flavour West African cocoa beans

- careful selection of the cocoa beans' size and quality

- special blends of single origins to achieve subtle taste differentiation

- traditional roasting and fine grinding methods that produce lower particle sizes than others (for example Belgium 12 microns - UK 24 microns)

- high cocoa content to achieve the unique Belgian taste.

And its Knowhow and Creativity

Belgium is most famous for its individual chocolates or «pralines» with endless combinations of fillings. The fillings can be of nearly any consistency, ranging from fluid-like cream, soft caramel, light ganache or creamy whipped praline. Each of these various bases are then further developed with flavorings such as liqueur, coffee, vanilla, herbs, spices ... to create unique taste sensations.

Belgium, the Chocolate Country

Undoubtedly! And for two obvious reasons: firstly, annual per capita consumption is just under 11 kg/year per head of population and secondly, and more importantly, because there are almost 350 chocolate-makers in the Kingdom whose expertise and skill long ago won over connoisseurs worldwide. Chocolate, both luxury and mass-produced, takes up kilometers of shelf space in super- markets, purring with pleasure in the form of delicate pralines in precious ballotins, while it is a pleasure to drink and can be savored in marvelous biscuits and cakes. It is so good that no tourist leaves the country without taking some away in his or her luggage. Belgian chocolate is the symbol of a certain kind of gourmet pleasure, the incarnation of a veritable art of living and its finesse and fine taste are endlessly appealing.

Sugar Confectionery

Belgian sugar confectionery producers owe their export success chiefly to the quality and the diversity of their products. They are highly innovative and are constantly launching new products, testifying to great imagination. The Belgian sugar confectionery industry's flagship products are jellies (fruit-flavored and transparent) in rich mixes. Other Belgian varieties of sugar confectionery include toffees and caramels, which are deliciously chewy thanks to their specific ingredients (mixture of sugar, butter and cream), almond and chocolate dragées, marzipan, crystallized fruits and boiled sweets with sour fillings.

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ENVIRONMENT & RENEWABLE ENERGY IN BELGIUM

Taking up Global Challenges 

Belgium has a concentration of 'clean technology' leaders who are already taking up environmental and climate challenges around the world… particularly in water treatment, soil decontamination, air purification and offshore wind turbines. 

In recent years, the number of Belgian companies in the environment sector has increased by a striking 40%. The sector now employs tens of thousands of people. According to official European statistics, 75% of European 'cleantech' exports come from five countries: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and, indeed, Belgium. 

Renewable Energy 

Belgium made a commitment to increase its share of renewable Belgium Environment & Renewable Energy in Antwerp World Diamond Centre Belgium is the champion when it comes to recycling. According to EC figures Belgium has the highest rate of recycling of domestic waste in the EU energy to 13% of the total energy generated by 2020. Given the very limited potential of hydroelectric energy in Belgium (the topography of the country does not allow dams that would produce a very high capacity of electricity), this shift to green energy is achieved essentially by wind turbines - onshore as well as offshore thanks to large wind farms in the North Sea. Followed in order of importance by: solar energy (photovoltaic panels), and biomass energy. 

From Wind Turbines... 

Belgium is now a pioneer in offshore wind turbines in the North Sea. Belgium, alongside Germany and the United Kingdom, already has the greatest number of offshore wind turbines. Sandbanks off Ostend and Zeebruges are the setting for projects for seven wind turbine farms that should produce 25% of renewable energy in Belgium by 2020, or almost 4% of the total energy consumed in Belgium. AC-Power and Belwind currently have around 60 wind turbines in operation. These ambitious projects have enabled a whole ecosystem of Belgian companies to acquire the precious experience required to set up similar projects abroad: these companies include Tractebel Engineering (engineering), CFE and Fabricom (civil engineering) or DEME (dredging). But other Belgian champions have not waited for offshore developments in order to build up a reputation abroad. One such example is Hansen Transmissions, world leader in the manufacture of gear boxes for wind turbines. Other examples are Turbowinds (smaller wind turbines) and Electrawinds (independent supplier of green electricity and owner of wind farms around the world). In fact, more than one in three 2-MW wind turbines produced in the world use technology developed in Belgium. 

... to Solar Energy 

The rising stars of this fast-growing sector include Enfinity (solar park development company), or companies from the building sector who have integrated solar innovations into their products. These include Koramic (tiles), Recticel (polyurethane insulating foam) and Eternet (roof covering). Upstream of solar panel production processes, we have the example of an important Belgian industrial player - Umicore - that produces new components using raw materials such as silica or germanium to improve the ecological efficiency of solar cells. The University of Hasselt, in collaboration with IMEC and research centres in Liege, Germany and the Netherlands, recently developed a new technology for printing solar cells with a simple ink jet printer. Commercial applications should follow. 

... and Biomass 

Belgium is also at the forefront of generating electricity from biomass, i.e. from vegetable waste. In fact, most of the green electricity (from renewable energies) that is currently supplied by Electrabel, the main energy provider in Belgium, is generated by biomass power plants. The constant increase in energy prices has focused more and more attention on this type of energy. The most well-known form of biomass is the residue from wood. 

Water Treatment 

A number of Belgian companies have mastered the art of recycling waste water. Waterleau is one of the rare companies in the world to manage complete water treatment projects for public and private clients. The company uses cutting edge water purification techniques (last-generation membranes integrated into bioreactors) and specializes in generating energy from the bio- mass produced by sewage. The Belgian construction company Besix has ventured into the international arena. Its branch Sanotec, in collaboration with another Belgian company, Six Construct, has won an important contract for example for the construction of water purification stations in the United Arab Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This contract was named "Water deal of the year" for the level of quality and the strict requirements of the work to be carried out. 

Treatment of Waste Recycling 

Belgium is the champion when it comes to recycling. According to EC figures Belgium has the highest rate of recycling of domestic waste in the EU. About 80% of industrial waste is recycled. The different actions of packaging companies that formed part of the economic interest groups contributed to these results as well as the awareness campaigns run by public authorities. Given this background, it is not surprising that Belgian companies play a pioneering role in the collection and treatment of waste or in the design of industrial processes that generate less waste. They have all realized that waste is worth its weight in gold in a world where reserves of raw materials are shrinking.

CONSTRUCTION  SECTOR OF BELGIUM

The Pride of Builders

There is often a Belgian company behind the largest construction sites in the world, be it a new high-rise building in a Persian Gulf state, bridges across the ocean in Asia or the construction of dams in South America. 

The Belgian passion for construction is nothing new, and extends well beyond the borders of this small country. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Belgian industrialists such as Baron Empain were involved in construction and civil engineering sites that marked their era, be it the Paris metro or the "city of the future", Heliopolis, in Egypt. Relying notably on a flourishing iron and steel industry, Belgian entrepreneurs were world experts in the construction of train stations, railways and tram networks. Today, this reputation for being ahead of the curve as well as for reliability still characterizes the Belgian construction industry. Following on from a leader such as the international group Besix, Belgian construction firms can boast about participating in architectural projects that are among the most prestigious anywhere in the world. Besix, which has just celebrated its one hundredth anniversary, was notably involved in the construction of the famous Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, in Dubai. The weight of the building sector in Belgium (construction, civil engineering, finishing) exceeds EUR 20 billion and is continually growing. The share of exports in this is hard to estimate, given that the largest firms bill directly from subsidiaries or joint ventures abroad, but is certainly in excess of EUR 5 billion. Belgian construction firms mainly export to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. 

A Highly Diversified Sector 

The construction sector is very extensive. Belgium not only has major general construction firms, covering every link in the chain (from design to finishing, via civil engineering), but also a certain number of leading architects and town planners, operating upstream and specialising, for example, in energy or transport issues. Belgians also excel in the field of construction equipment and materials. A large number of innovations in terms of cement, granules, insulating materials or construction techniques (prefabricated housing, for example) are the fruit of the investments in R&D made by Belgian companies. These innovations allow returns to be increased, the impact of construction activities on the environment to be reduced, working conditions to be improved or the increasingly strict requirements of users in terms of comfort, safety and maintenance to be satisfied. One of the world leaders in construction materials is none other than the Belgian group Etex, known in particular for the brand Eternit (roofing materials), but which is also a European leader in the plasterboard segment. Employing 13,500 people throughout the world, Etex generates around EUR 2 billion in turnover, making it a real heavyweight in the sector. 

Insulating Materials 

The greatest potential for improving the energy performance of a building, a priori within the context of a renovation, lies in insulating the roof, walls and floors. The Belgian firm Recticel is a world leader in polyurethane insulating panels. This material has the advantage of being very light and easy to use, with an excellent insulating capacity. The company Soudal is another Belgian firm, well known among specialists in construction, which has acquired a fine world-wide reputation thanks to its polyurethane insulating foam fillers. The Etex group, mentioned above, is also careful to adopt a sustainable approach in the processing of raw materials as diverse as cement, clay, plaster or natural stone. Furthermore, the group's Eternit division, which specialises in roofing materials, has launched an innovative range of slates and solar tiles. At the same time, classic industrial enterprises such as AGC Flat Glass (production of plate glass), Deceuninck (PVC windows), Bekaert (world leader in steel wire transformation and coatings) or Reynaers Aluminium (aluminium profiles) have largely integrated the requirements of eco-efficiency into their range of products. These have been enriched by new insulating properties against both heat and cold. 

Energy-Saving Equipment 

Reducing the electricity bill of a home, an office complex or a factory also reduces CO2 emissions. A major area where savings can be made is lighting. The Belgian company ETAP Lighting is at the forefront in designing low-energy lighting systems, using reflective aluminum in particular. The firm also supplies software for controlling and regulating lighting in businesses. The Schreder Group, which installs public lighting infrastructures throughout the world, has developed a high degree of specialization in the potential of LED technology. Niko is another Belgian company specializing in home automation, in other words intelligent systems for controlling temperature and lighting in homes. Belgian companies are not lacking inventiveness in this area. They include the company Jaga, which develops radiators that use less water and which also purify the ambient air. Umicore, the metallurgical company also promotes zinc as a noble and sustainable building material. There is an ever increasing world demand for zinc building products (natural, pre-weathered or pre- retreated) . 

On Land and Sea 

The construction of port infrastructures, dykes, canals, offshore platforms or hotel complexes by the sea first requires major dredging work, specifically the removal of tonnes of sand and sediment from the seabed to allow the civil engineering work to begin. This highly specific sector of activities has only a small number of major players in the world, including two leading Belgian companies. DEME (Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering) and Jan De Nul, basing themselves on vast experience acquired in the North Sea and on Belgium's internal waterways, are now present throughout the waters of the world. They play a vital role in preparing the land for remarkable sites on the five continents: the extension of the Panama Canal, Doha International Airport in Qatar, the artificial islands of Dubai, offshore wind farms in Denmark, the extension of Chennai Port in India, etc. To accomplish these grandiose works, DEME and Jan De Nul construct dredging vessels that in each case push the envelope in terms of tonnage. Belgian dredgers can transport up to 46,000 m3 of sand and sediment, which they can collect from depths of up to 150 meters. The infrastructural requirements of emerging countries, together with the upkeep and maintenance of existing offshore or port installations, have turned dredging into a flourishing sector of activity 

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS IN BELGIUM

Belgium, the perfect country in which to site a logistics base or distribution centre. 

Belgium has been able to profit from its central position in Europe - cities such as Paris, London, Amster- dam and Frankfurt are less than 300 km away - and from a particularly well-developed network of communication channels, be it by road, inland waterway, rail or air, to turn transport and logistics into key sectors of its economy. The turnover of the transport and logistics sector exceeds EUR 85 billion. This sector is in the top 5 economic sectors in Belgium by turnover. This sector has been rising steadily, and has seen a growth of 130% in ten years. The investments, up by more than 70% in the past ten years, have exceeded EUR 5 billion. This amount puts the transport and logistics sector in 2nd place of all sectors in terms of investment. 

Public Support to Investors 

International studies regularly place Belgium and its regions among the most attractive for logistics locations in Europe. Belgium even frequently achieves first place in the European rankings. The advantages include attractive operating costs, the price and availability of land (especially in the less urbanized south of the country), and last but not least, the quality of the workforce. Foreign logistics providers wishing to invest in Belgium can generally expect proactive support from the authorities. In Wallonia for example, logistics is considered to be a strategic sector for economic redeployment. The authorities have created a "Logistics in Wallonia" competitiveness cluster there. This cluster brings together no fewer than 250 logistics sector players, both Belgian and international, and therefore enables foreign investors to construct a business network in Belgium more quickly. Another advantage for foreign investors that should not be overlooked is that some development zones in the country can receive significant financial aid from the European Union. 

Wallonia's "logistics-friendly" approach is paying off: logistics has been the most promising sector in the last 10 years in terms of foreign investment and job creation. The Swedish H&M group (clothing), the American pharmaceutical company Baxter, the French glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain and the American silicon materials specialist Dow Corning have all chosen Wallonia for major investments in European distribution centers. 

Hundreds of Specialized Logistics Centres 

Frequently listed among the most attractive logistical regions in terms of cost, accessibility or quality of labor, Flanders has been able to profit from the integration of its major ports, it's very dense road and rail network and its network of inland waterways to attract leading logistical operators. The logistical operations based in Flanders cover a wide range of sectors. They include the logistical centers of major multinationals such as Johnson & Johnson, Caterpillar, Nike and Toyota as well as the activities of entrepreneurs specializing in port or multi modal logistics (Katoen Natie, PSA International, Essers, Yusen Logistics, etc.). 

The Take-off of Air Hubs 

The quality of air transport infrastructures, specifically for cargo, also contributes to Belgium's reputation as a logistical cross-road. The country has one national airport - Brussels Zaventem - and four regional airports (Antwerp, Liege, Charleroi and Ostend). Brussels Zaventem has long been a major logistical hub of the country. It is next to a "cargo village", which offers a whole range of logistical services and has long attracted global air freight and express shipping specialists such as DHL and UPS, but also from the national postal operator BPost and its worldwide express mail service, BPost International. 

Rail, at the Heart of Multimodal Development 

Belgium has some 10 bimodal or tri-modal platforms and is in the process of building new ones, which are at the cutting edge of technology. The ambitious CAREX project aims to connect the logistics basin of Liege to the high speed train networks to Paris and Frankfurt. The complementarities between rail and road are also being fully developed. Wallonia in particular has several rail-road terminals that make it possible to connect the south of Belgium and the north of France to the major maritime ports of the North Sea, while avoiding the major road hubs of Brussels and Antwerp which are suffering ever-increasing congestion. 

Belgian Ports Profit from Globalization 

It is almost certain that there is no other country in the world that has so much port expertise concentrated into such a small land area. Belgium has no fewer than six international ports concentrated in its surface area of little over 30,500 km": four sea ports (Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge and Ostend) and two river ports (Liege and Brussels). After experiencing a slowdown in 2009 and 2010 due to the economic crisis, traffic through the Belgian ports has started increasing again, and transshipments should exceed 300 million tonnes in the years ahead. Belgian ports currently represent about 260,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

Tens of millions of consumers 

All Belgian ports are currently following with great interest the development of a megaproject to link the Seine and the Scheldt. This should connect the tributaries of the Seine (including the Ports of Paris and Le Havre) to the whole of the Belgian inland waterway network by 2015. 

Antwerp, Gateway to Europe 

The Port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe and the tenth largest world-wide for international sea transport. The Port of Antwerp has become a sort of "supermarket" of Europe through which all kinds of products and goods pass. Close to 180 million tonnes of goods go through Antwerp each year, including 100 million tonnes in containers. A whole industry of warehousing (Antwerp is the leader in Europe with 5.4 million m2 of storage space) has grown up here, as has packaging, sorting and transport to end consumers. While the Port of Antwerp is exceeded by Rotterdam in terms of tonnage, it is on par with its Dutch rival in terms of added value and jobs (over 60,000 direct jobs and 140,000 indirect jobs). 

Ghent, an Environmentally-Friendly Port 

With transshipments of nearly 50 million tonnes, more than half of which were shipped by sea and 20 million tonnes by inland waterway, the Port of Ghent is beating records in its development strategy based on "short sea shipping". With clients that include leading names such as Volvo, ArcelorMittal, Stora Enso and Honda, the Port of Ghent offers an alternative to road transport from eastern and southern Europe. 

Canal du Centre (Belgium) can accommodate boats with a displacement of up to 1,350 tons 

Liege 

The Port of Liege, the leading inland Belgian port and third inland port in Europe, is enjoying boom times. Inland waterway traffic is reaching over 15 million tonnes. If one adds rail and road traffic to this figure, the volume of goods transported exceeds 21 million tonnes. The development of the port, combined with the expansion of Liege airport, contributes to the excellent logistical reputation of eastern Belgium. 

Zeebrugge 

The Port of Zeebrugge is a hub for shipping from and to the United Kingdom, as well as for distribution of cargo from all over the world towards other "short sea" destinations. The advantage of the port is that it can accommodate the biggest container ships (8,500 to 14,000 TEU). Zeebrugge is also home to the largest automotive port in the world, which recently received major investment from the French motor vehicle group PSA (Peugeot-Citroen). The port of Zeebrugge also specializes in shipping bulk liquids, particularly gas (LNG) as Zeebrugge is also a large gas terminal. Zeebrugge in fact receives some of the world's largest LPG tankers. 

Brussels 

Most tourists and perhaps even the many businesspeople who visit Brussels are probably unaware of the fact, but the Belgian capital, in spite of the absence of a river, is the second biggest inland port in Belgium (after Liege), with a surface area of 64 hectares and a traffic of some 4 million tonnes (excluding transit). Brussels is in fact only five hours' sailing from the sea port of Antwerp, via the Willebroek Canal. 

Ostend 

The Port of Ostend is the most modest, but also the youngest of the Belgian sea ports. It has only been actively and officially shipping goods for around 15 years. The port focuses mainly on Roll-On-Roll-Off traffic going from and to the United Kingdom. In recent years, the port has succeeded in converting its passenger activity, which has been falling sharply since the construction of the Channel Tunnel, to transhipment of goods. The Port of Ostend also specializes in transporting material for offshore wind turbines, as it is from Ostend that components leave for the Belgian wind farms in the North Sea.

ICT  & MEDIA IN BELGIUM

The big names of the ICT industry see Belgium as "the place to be"; particularly since its technological workforce and ICT infrastructures have an excellent reputation. 

It is not a widely known fact, no doubt on account of the legendary modesty of the Belgians, but it was a Belgian engineer, Robert Cailliau, who co-invented the World Wide Web alongside Britain's Tim Berners-Lee. That took place over 20 years ago at CERN in Geneva. Internet pioneer Robert Cailliau is the most remarkable expression of the high quality of Belgian engineering and computer science. Belgium, with just a little over 10 million inhabitants, has no fewer than ten computer science faculties, with some of them, such as those in Leuven and Namur, being among the oldest in Europe. Belgium's skilled workforce and central location in Europe has frequently made it a preferred base of operations for major technology companies seeking to conquer the continental European market. Moreover, the presence in Brussels of European institutions means that many multinationals in the IT sector see Belgium as "the place to be". 

A Quality ICT Infrastructure 

The quality of the network infrastructures is excellent. Thanks to Belgium ICT & Media in a competitive market of fixed networks, more than 99% of homes have coaxial network access and/or network access using the copper pair. More than 70% of the population has access to a download speed of 20 MB a second and fiber optics are developing rapidly. Historically, Belgium has always led the way in the penetration of high-speed Internet. ADSL technology, which by and large remains the norm for high-speed Internet, was also conceived in the research centre of Alcatel (now Alcatel-Lucent) in Antwerp. In terms of mobile networks, Belgium already has 90% 3G network coverage, shared between the three telecom operators Belgacom (the historical operator), Mobistar (France Telecom group) and Base (KPN group). The various operators, who come either from the world of telecoms or the world of cabled distribution, have created intense competition, which benefits the consumer. Companies in turn can count on an extensive network connectivity offering. The density of the country's population goes hand in hand with the density of cables and other underground backbones. For example, a company that sets up its 'data centre' in Belgium can choose from dozens of different telecom partners. 

Google and Microsoft 

Two giants of the ICT industry, Google and Microsoft, have made significant investments in Belgium, in partnership with the regional authorities. Google was able to benefit from the excel- lent quality of the ICT infrastructure to build a high-tech data centre, while Microsoft, keen to make the most of the density of 'grey matter' and the capacity for innovation of young Belgian graduates, recently opened a second Microsoft Innovation Centre in Brussels, after having unveiled the first, two years ago in the south of the country. 

Belgium has a certain number of ICT companies specializing in specific market niches, which export their know-how far beyond its borders. A small sample... 

Software & Solutions for Finance 

The country welcomes major financial players such as Swift and Euroclear, which have their headquarters there, or Mastercard, which has set up its European head office there. IT is a strategically important element within these three companies. 

Payment Specialists 

Belgium was the first country in the world to use bank accounts with standardized 12 figures and the first country to introduce a national clearing system. The country has also always been at the forefront in terms of cards and electronic payment systems. It is no accident that Atos Worldline, the world leader in payment systems, is based in Belgium. In the e-commerce sector too Belgium has produced a payment pioneer, the company Ogone, one of Europe's main payment service providers. But the Belgian player in the banking world that is probably the best known as regards payment systems is Clear2Pay. Half the top 50 banks in the world are clients of Clear2Pay. 

Banking Software 

Banking software is another specialty in which several Belgian companies enjoy an excellent reputation. This is especially true for software provider Callatay & Wouters. This subsidiary of the Sopra international group is best known for its Thaler software package, modular software that can provide real-time processing of most bank back office transactions. Another Belgian provider that is succeeding in making an international breakthrough is BSB, which also provides targeted solutions for the financial market: Soliam (portfolio management software) and So Life (insurance policy management software), together with associated professional services. 

Security 

VASCO, the international company of Belgian origin (quoted on NASDAQ) is also closely linked to the financial sector, specializing as it does in Internet security (for eBanking purposes) and authentication. Its most well-known product is the Digipass, a sort of small calculator that generates passwords and allows strong authentication of users of online banking services. Dozens of banks use this 'made in Belgium' technology. SecurlT is another Belgian player in the IT security market that counts as its clients banks from all over the world. 

Belgium, Pioneer of elD 

All Belgians over the age of 12 have an electronic identity card: elD facilitates secure access to a whole range of e-government applications, but is also of interest to the private sector. Bill Gates himself has spoken of its merits. Historically at the forefront in terms of developing the smart card (Professor Ouisquater of the University of Louvain-la-Neuve is a world expert on the subject), over the years Belgium has acquired a pioneering reputation in electronic personal identification. 

Belgium is the first country in the world where all citizens over the age of 12 have an electronic identity card (eID). Launched in the mid-2000s, this technological innovation had drawn the praise of Bill Gates himself, who saw it as a facilitator for e-government. By simplifying the online identification process, elD allows millions of citizens to access online public services in complete security: as well as tax declarations, calculating future pensions, ordering official documents, etc.

DIAMONDS OF BELGIUM

Antwerp and Diamonds 

Floating on the city's passion for this precious stone… its accumulated knowledge and skill, as the prime centre for the global diamond trade, the one role model for an ethical and clean diamond business, and the epicenter of high-tech research, defined by a unique blend of cultures. 

Antwerp is where all the key elements in the industry are concentrated: home to all the major mining companies that unearth these treasures, over 1800 individual diamond dealers originating from all over the world, to the dedicated diamond banks and insurance brokers, the forwarders that are equipped to send the precious parcels to every corner of the world, the best polishers in the world and high tech researchers that get the best out of each and every rough stone. In the world of diamonds, all roads lead to Antwerp. More than five centuries of diamond history in Antwerp lives on every day, in the jobs of over 34,000 people that work here and abroad. Besides providing a living for over 34.000, the diamond industry largely contributes to the Belgian and European economy: diamonds are the most important Belgian export product outside the European Union. Our 2012 turnover equalled 51.9 billion US dollars. Otherwise put, that is on average 200 million US dollars’ worth in stones going in and out our Diamond Office, every single day. 

Those numbers aren't surprising if you know that 8 out of 10 of all rough diamonds and half of all the polished diamonds in the world pass through Antwerp. The reason for this is simple; no other place in the world can offer all the elements that enable every buyer to find a seller, and every seller to find a buyer, at the best price. Numbers indicate India continues to be the most important manufacturing hub, importing 151.9 million carats in rough diamonds in 2012. At the same time, Antwerp clearly remains the world's foremost rough diamond trading hub. In 2012, 76.5 million carats of rough diamonds were imported, while 104.4 million carats of uncut stones were exported. In comparison, combined, Antwerp's direct competitors Dubai and Tel Aviv imported 73 million carats and exported 74.2 million carats of rough diamonds. 

Antwerp World Diamond Centre 

Representing the Belgian diamond industry internationally is the AWDC (Antwerp World Diamond Centre), a foundation responsible for the advocacy and defense of the Belgian diamond industry and trade in general. AWDC's mission is twofold: strengthening Antwerp's position as the world's primary diamond trading centre and strengthening the image of diamonds to a general audience. 

The various AWDC Departments are at your service to facilitate your business in Antwerp. Diamond Office, the in-house customs office that streamlines an average of US$ 200 million worth in diamonds in and out of Antwerp, lies at the core of the city's unique trade infrastructure. Through a sophisticated system of procedures and controls, Antwerp is continuously focused on maintaining internationally recognized high levels of compliance and transparency relating to AML, KP, and CSR, summarized in the fifth C, for Compliance, Confidence and CSR.

BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN PAKISTAN & BELGIUM