04 11 Bba Newsletter

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BELGIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION C/o Embassy of Belgium, 50-N, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021Tel: 91-11-26889851, Fax: 11-26885821

No. BBA/4/2004 15 October 2004

NEWSLETTER 5

FOREWORD

BY MR. PHILIPPE VAN DE CASTEELE PRESIDENT OF THE BBA

Dear members, I welcome you to the 5th edition of the Belgian Business Association newsletter. Last July, the BBA co-organised with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry a seminar on the theme: “Budget 2004-05: What does it mean for foreign investors?” Senior Consultants of Ernst & Young gave interesting presentations and the seminar received a good audience. Looking forward, the Executive Committee of the BBA is working on the organisation of other events and seminars: Seminar on Infrastructure, a Fundraising Event in favour of an Indian NGO and a Social Event with our members. We are also fostering the co-organisation of events with other Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations here in Delhi, like the participation for a Seminar on Marketing Strategies, a lunch with Ambassadors of emerging countries, etc… You will of course be kept informed in due time on the details of these events. In this newsletter, I welcome the announcements of HE Mr. Patrick De Beyter, Ambassador of Belgium, and the contributions prepared by Jean-Louis Van Belle, Counsellor, Eric Santkin and Peter Verplancken, Trade Commissioners of the Embassy of Belgium as well as the contribution of the Luxembourg Embassy. Our regular feature of company profile is this time dedicated to Dredging International. I hope that you will find the information in our newsletter interesting and I am looking forward to meet you all during our upcoming events. With warm regards, for BELGIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Philippe Van de Casteele President

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NEWS FROM THE EMBASSY

BY HE MR. PATRICK DE BEYTER,

AMBASSADOR OF BELGIUM IN DELHI

Delhi, 12 October 2004

Dear BBA Members and Friends, Although the past summer has been somewhat more relaxed, both the BBA and the Embassy have obviously shifted into higher gear again in the last two months. We are looking forward to a number of interesting events again, one of them being the trade mission headed by HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium next year. The dates for this mission (12-19 March 2005), as well as the itinerary (Delhi, Bangalore & Mumbai), have now been confirmed, and we are also very pleased that the Vice-President of India, H.E. Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has accepted to be the official host for this mission, which indicates the importance of this mission for our Indian counterparts too. Most of the logistic aspects for this mission (such as hotels: putting up an expected 180 people in one hotel is not easy!) have been settled too now, so we can now focus on the creative part of the preparation: generating good ideas that should ensure this mission is not a one-shot event. We will keep you informed.

In the near future, the infrastructure seminar in December should be very interesting, especially if Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia could chair the panel. For the other events, I would refer to the introduction of the BBA President. We have been discussing a number of ideas for future events during meetings as well as the cosy dinner at my Residence with the BBA Executive Committee and I am sure most of these these ideas will bear fruit.

I can only thank and further encourage the BBA Executive Committee to continue on their élan.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick De Beyter Ambassador of Belgium

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EU-INDIA NEWS

BY JEAN LOUIS VAN BELLE, COUNSELLOR,

EMBASSY OF BELGIUM DELHI

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION COMMUNICATION ON AN EU-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP The relations between the European Union and India have received a very significant boost as a result of the European Commission Communication on ‘An EU-India strategic partnership’, which was published on 16 June and approved by all of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union on 11 October. The document has been well received by the Indian authorities because it intends to deepen and widen EU-India cooperation significantly. A number of the initiatives mentioned in the document of course were already in the works. However, this attempt to cast the relations between the EU and India in a more strategic context is a very useful one. Of course, one may be tempted to think the EU is just trying to imitate the American Next Steps in Strategic Partnership process but that’s beside the point. The range of areas covered by the document is huge, thereby effectively establishing the basis of a truly strategic partnership relation. They are grouped under the following headings:

1. Improving international cooperation in order to contribute to a more effective multilateral global governance system. The areas of cooperation include conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction (for instance in Afghanistan), non-proliferation of WMD, the fight against terrorism, and others.

2. Strenghtening the economic partnership

The EU is India’s largest trading partner and main source of foreign inward investment, but India is only the EU’s 14th trading partner, lagging behind countries like Brazil and South Africa and, of course, fast growing China. Therefore, the EU feels action is needed on many fronts, including through greater market opening and economic reform on India’s side. The Communication cites high and discriminatory tariffs and taxes, numerous non-tariff barriers, FDI restrictions, lack of IPR protection and infrastructure as major problems. The EU is ready to assist in this process by further building upon initiatives such as the Joint Initiative to Enhance Trade and Investment, as well as the Trade and Investment Development Programme. The enormous potential for more EU-India collaboration in science and technology is recognized, e.g. through increased participation of Indian researchers in the EU’s 6th EU Research Framework Programme (FP6), which runs till 2006 but will be followed up by a new FP, and by joint ventures such as the EU-India partnership for developing the Galileo global positioning system, in which the Indian Space Research Organization will be a full development partner.

3. Development cooperation: the EU will continue to be one of the largest bilateral grant

donors to India, with programmes that focus on those areas that lag behind in India’s economic development. The EU is determined to help India to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

4. More mutual understanding through initiatives such as parliamentary exchanges, more

academic contacts and student exchanges (the actions include a new 33 million € scholarship programme), more cooperation in the cultural field, and actions geared towards increasing the reciprocal visibility.

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5. Institutional architecture: the multiplication of new institutional arrangements, building upon the 1993 Joint Political Statement, the 1994 Cooperation Agreement, and the 2000 Lisbon Summit (to which the objective of a truly strategic relationship between the EU and India could be traced), have resulted in a complex structure which could be streamlined somewhat in order to increase its effectiveness. The aim is to empower the EU-India Joint Commission and its subcommissions somewhat more, so that the Summits and Ministerial Meetings can focus on a limited strategic priorities.

This strategic communication will be discussed and approved during the next EU-India Summit in The Hague (Netherlands) that will take place, under the Dutch EU Presidency, on 8 November. For more information, one can consult the website of the Delegation of the European Commission in Delhi: www.delind.cec.eu.int. 2. NEW CALLS FOR PROPOSALS UNDER EU PROGRAMS Current calls are calls under the 6th FP for the moment: see the above-mentioned website. 3. A NEW EU COMMISSION The biggest news on the EU, which I had already announced in the last newsletter, is the appointment of the new European Commission. Indeed, the old Commission will formally end its term on 1 November 2004, so we will miss movers and shakers such as Pascal LAMY in trade matters and Chris PATTEN, who was in charge of external relations in general and an expert on Asia we will all miss. However, the new Portuguese Commission President, Mr. José Manuel BARROSO, the new British Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Peter MANDELSON, and the new Austrian Commissioner for Exernal Relations, Mrs. Benita FERRERO-WALDNER will, without any doubt, prove to be very worthy successors. Jean Louis Van Belle Embassy of Belgium 12 October 2004

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COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEWS

FROM THE TRADE COMMISSIONERS OF THE EMBASSY OF BELGIUM IN DELHI NEWS FROM MR. ERIC SANTKIN, AWEX NEWS AWEX & OFI, a single entity since July 1 From 1st July 2004, the Agence wallonne à l’Exportation (AWEX, Walloon Export Agency) and the OFI have become just one single new entity: l’Agence wallonne à l’Exportation et aux Investissements étrangers (Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency). From 2003 the Walloon government had decided to gather into a single structure the export activities and the search for foreign investors. Philippe Suinen -currently General Manager of AWEx, has been chosen to look after the management of this new organisation. The expectation is for better use and positive rationalisation of the resources of the Walloon region, explains Philippe Suinen. The stated aim of this new structure is to be able to promote better the Walloon region on international markets. There will be a single source, a single tone in international communication. With almost a hundred economic and commercial representatives spread throughout the world, the Walloon region has a particularly dense network. The support for exports may be an element that is attractive to investment, continues Philippe Suinen. This integration of both bodies would also make the global relationships with the other Walloon economic operators (Union Wallonne des Entreprises, [Walloon Enterprise Union], intermunicipal associations,) more coherent. As for employment, the plan aims to be directed towards growth investments without being too ambitious, explains Philippe Suinen. All investment that brings jobs is welcome. From now on, the Shanghai agency office has initiated collaboration with a Chinese representative dedicated full time to the search for industrial projects capable of being transplanted to the Walloon region. And the management of other offices of the agency is already working on freeing up time for the subject of investments. A task that inspires enthusiasm. Continued investment confirmed by GSK Bio In March 2004, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK Bio) made public its intention to extend its investment as the world´s leading producer of vaccines at the launch of the building at its new Belgian base - Zoning de la Noire Epine, 20 avenue Fleming in Wavre. Laying the foundation stone of the first building dedicated to quality control, Jean Stéphenne, President and General Manager of GSK Biologicals, highlighted the main reasons behind this ambitious project: ´about twenty vaccines are currently being developed. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, confirms its intention to invest on and in its site in Walloon Brabant, its new base in Belgium. In all, no less than 450 million euros worth of investment (infrastructure and research) will be made by 2007, this is 10 times the levels at the beginning of the 90´s. By 2005, over an area covering 17 000sqm, they will house the production of two new vaccines that are themselves in the final phases of development: Rotarix, against severe gastro-enteritis in children (rotavirus) and Cervarix against cervical cancer (Human Papillomavirus). Rotarix is today in the final phase of development: it will be tested on South American patients before the end of 2004. Cervarix is also being finalised: two studies are due to start to make a wider evaluation of the effectiveness of the vaccine in women aged 15 to 30.

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Today, GSK Bio employs more than 1,000 researchers devoted to the discovery of new vaccines and the development of easier and cheaper to be used combined vaccines for preventing infections the cause of serious health problems across the world. With about twenty vaccines being developed for all age-groups, in all areas of the world and for fighting diseases as widespread and endemic as tuberculosis, flu, chicken pox, malaria, meningitis, dengue fever, hepatitis, cancer or AIDS, objectives are planned several decades in advance. No less than 85 of some 800 million doses distributed in 2003 were combined paediatric vaccines for protecting children against 3 to 6 diseases together. The expertise, high added-value, environment and work of the 4,000 GSK Bio staff employed on sites in Belgium ensure a quality and continuity of work rarely equalled. To maintain the sustainable development of its activities, the company also has the active support of the Walloon Region and European Union in developing projects and employment. It also works in close cooperation with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and the Pan American Health Organization. Synergies and expertise from its Belgian Centre of Excellence enable it to save millions of human lives each year in the world´s most fragile countries. UPCOMING EVENTS

• 1–5 November 2004: IT.COM Bangalore with a common booth for companies. 4 companies have already registered: Visionshape Europe SA (www.visionshape.com), Dinh-Telecom (www.dinh.be) , Erin (www.erin.lu), Telindus (www.telindus.com)

• Week of 29 November 2004, seminars on food ingredients to be held in Delhi, Bangalore and

Pune. It will be co-organized with UWE (Walloon Business Federation) and CIFTI (Food Processing Division from FICCI).

• Participation to Aero-India 2005, in Bangalore, 9-13 February 2005.

• Prince mission 13- 19 March 2005, in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

http://www.visionshape.com/

http://www.erin.lu/

http://www.telindus.com/

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NEWS FROM MR. PETER VERPLANCKEN, EXPORT FLANDERS NEWS Export Vlaanderen New Delhi participated in the 3rd edition of “Transport India Fair” in New Delhi (Pragati Maidan) from 1 to 3 September 2004. The event was organized by “Inter Ads Ltd.”, New Delhi. Ten Flemish companies displayed their catalogues and highlighted their activities. A good number of interesting contacts were received for the participating companies. The offices of Export Vlaanderen in Mumbai and Bangalore have gone in for expansion. One staff member each has been added to strengthen the existing team. Mr. Prasad Shide has joined our Mumbai office and Ms. Aritha Girish has joined our office in Bangalore. UPCOMING EVENTS

• The Port of Zeebrugge will bring in a small delegation to visit India from 13 to 16 Oct. 2004. The team will comprise of Mr. Joachim Coens, Managing Director and Mr. Vincent De Saedeleer, Vice-President (Shipping & Business Development). During their visit to India, they will go to Delhi (13 & 14 Oct. 2004) and Chennai (15 & 16 Oct. 2004). The purpose of the visit is to concentrate on automobile and automotive component exporters from India. The Port of Zeebrugge is the largest handler of new automobile traffic. Last year it handled 1,6 million automobiles.

In Delhi, they have meeting programmes with SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), ACMA (Automotive Components Manufacturers Association), Maruti Udyog Ltd. and Eicher International Ltd. In Chennai they will be interacting with Hyundai Motors and Ford Motors.

• From 26 to 29 Oct. 2004, Mr. Peter Verplancken, Economic & Trade Commissioner of

Flanders will be on an official visit to the Maldives. Companies interested in obtaining market information on their sector of activity are most welcome to contact Mr. Verplancken with their requirements.

• Between 27 Oct and 5 Nov 2004 a delegation from FFIO (Flemish Foreign Investment

Office) will visit India. During the visit they would go to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai. The aim of the visit is to attract investments from the chemical, logistics and manufacturing sectors.

• Export Vlaanderen Bangalore will be participating in the “Bangalore IT.Com” software Trade

Fair in Bangalore (1-5 Nov. 2004). Several Flemish companies active in the software sector would display their catalogues and highlight their interest in the Indian market.

• From 3 to 6 Dec. 2004, the 6th edition of “AgroTech Fair” would take place in Chandigarh. The Fair is organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry – CII, Chandigarh. This event takes place every 2 years. Export Vlaanderen New Delhi would organize a catalogue stand of Flemish companies active in the agro-industrial sector.

• Export Vlaanderen Mumbai would participate in the “Indian Food & Wine Show (IFOWS)” in

Mumbai from 20 to 22 Jan. 2005. The event is organized by LEMS – Lotus Exhibition and Marketing Services, Gurgaon. This is being organized in collaboration with “Verona Fairs Authority”, Italy.

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SECTORIAL FOCUS Indo-Belgian Trade Exchange Indo-Belgian trade reaches new high: Indo-Belgian trade showed a healthy growth rate in the first half of the year 2004 by 17,2%. Total trade amounted to 3,4 billion € as compared to 2,9 billion € during the first half of the year 2003. Exports from Belgium grew by 16,7% to 2,3 billion € and imports from India grew by 18,3% to reach 1,1 billion €. The figures put Belgium well ahead of, for example, Germany, which did almost 3 billion € in the same period. This is due to the trade in diamonds which dominates our trade exchanges. Antwerp is the main trading centre of rough diamonds (70% world’s rough diamonds) and cut diamonds (50% of world’s cut diamonds). India is the main cutting centre with over 600.000 cutters involved in the sector. Without the diamond industry, we see a more proportionate trade flow of about 700 million € in the first half of the year 2004 with the trade balance in favour of India! It also registered a growth rate of 22,5%! India’s exports grew by 17,7% to 4,6 million €. Belgian exports grew by 30% to 2,84 million €. Source: Based on report from “Instituut voor Nationale Rekening” – National Institute for Accounts, Belgium. Export Vlaanderen, New Delhi 6 October 2004

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CONTRIBUTION OF THE LUXEMBOURG BUSINESS COMMUNITY

REASONS FOR OPERATING AN IT OR ADMINISTRATIVE HUB FOR THE FINANCIAL SECTOR FROM LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg has proven over the past years its competencies in the financial sector. However, other opportunities in the IT and operation processing domains are emerging in a more and more favourable legal and tax environment as well. Luxembourg offers an exceptional range of opportunities for investment, innovation, research, development and growth for IT and administrative hubs. As a founding member of the European Economic Community and owing to its central location in Europe, the high level of education, the multilingual capabilities and high productivity of its labour force, Luxembourg is an ideal gateway to the European market. Well-developed transportation and communication networks provide an easy link to European Union partners and to the rest of the world. Luxembourg is a country where business can be developed swiftly without the cumbersome administrative red tape that is so often encountered. Social harmony is such an important asset that there has hardly been a strike over the last 80 years. Luxembourg scores very high in terms of general economic attractiveness which can be measured by the high political stability as well as the investment subsidies offered by the Government. The Government offers a variety of assistance including guarantees, cash, tax incentives, subsidised loans, assistance with development and construction projects etc. A wide range of customised investment incentives are offered specifically for new ventures. In terms of business and communications infrastructure, Luxembourg offers Western European standards. The business environment is particularly well tuned to the finance sector as a result of heavy concentration of banks and investment funds. A wide range of professional services is available. Besides the presence of experts in back-office operations and fund administration, a large number of specialized IT providers have settled in Luxembourg, including TCS. A KPMG study with regard to cost of human resources positions places Luxembourg favourably in Europe, second place after Italy. In terms of cost of office space, Luxembourg is also attractive. According to studies performed by Jones Lang LaSalle, Luxembourg is cheaper than other cities with comparative operations such as Paris, London and Dublin. The current legal framework contributes to the advantages of centralizing IT and/or operations in Luxembourg. A new law voted in 2003 defined new categories of “ Professionnels du Secteur Financier” (“PSF”) under which 2 new specific categories have been created for IT and administrative entities, (1) The IT and telecommunication network operators of the financial sector, will be allowed to operate IT and telecommunication systems on behalf of credit institutions, OPC, pension funds, PSF etc. They will also be in the position to perform other IT services, such as systems implementation, maintenance and development for other third parties. (2) The administrative agents of the financial sector will be allowed to perform administrative duties (back-office) on behalf of credit institutions, PSF, pension funds and OPC. These IT and / or administrative activities are not necessarily to be created out of the financial institutions but can be set up by other sectors. The status of PSF implies the regulatory supervision by the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) with a confidentiality agreement for all employees. A second element in favour of Luxembourg is data privacy, linked to banking secrecy. Keeping data centralised in a country where data privacy is part of the legal framework provides a sound framework to achieve secrecy over one’s client database.

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In January 2004, a new VAT group regime was introduced to overcome the VAT issue when a Luxembourg based hub had to invoice its services to its members. According to this new decree, a VAT exemption applies to the supply of services by independent groups of persons, for the purpose of rendering to their members services which are directly necessary for the exercise of their activity. In fact, combining political, macro-economical, human resources, legal and fiscal parameters, all these elements contribute undoubtedly to the preferred position of Luxembourg for the set-up and the operating of a centralized IT and /or financial transactions processing centre. A. Bhardwaj Trade Officer Luxembourg 13 October 2004

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COMPANY PROFILE

DREDGING INTERNATIONAL

History Dredging International is fully banking on synergies from the broader DEME Group. Pooling resources with sister companies and combining dredging and land reclamation with supporting activities and environmental skills, provides a unique opportunity for offering global solutions to clients all over the world. Dredging International was established in 1974 through the merger of the dredging division of Ackermans & van Haaren with Societe Generale de Dragage (SGD).

Ackermans & van Haaren was the proud owner of a fleet of top-class cutter suction dredgers, used during the construction of the new docks. SGD was famous for its engineering department and for a highly professional workforce manning bucket dredgers and trailing suction hopper dredgers. Both companies have been innovation leaders in their own right. Ackermans & van Haaren is known to have developed the very concept of suction dredgers, with a world-first realization in 1895, the Schelde-II. That tradition of innovation is alive more than ever in our days. In the past decade, Dredging International set a new benchmark in the industry, when the first jumbo hopper “Pearl River” was christened.

Profile Dredging International has its roots in the world port of Antwerp on the river Scheldt. We are proud to have contributed for more than one hundred years to deepening and maintenance programs of the river fairway, and to major reclamation projects that have created new land for a world class industry. In one century, the depth of the river fairway has more than doubled and bulk carriers of up to 274.726 dwt and a length of 335 metres are now able to sail seventy kilometers inland. After the First World War barely 425.000 m3 per year was dredged in the river Scheldt. By contrast, since the end of the Second World War, almost half a billion m3 of spoil has been removed from the Scheldt. At the same time, the port has expanded to 14.000 ha on the left and the right river banks. We are proud to have participated to this impressive achievement. Together with Baggerwerken Decloedt, Dredging International is one of the primary operating companies of DEME Group, responsible for more than two thirds of total turnover. Dredging International (DI) has a leading position on the global dredging market and has experienced rapid and sustained growth over the last decade. The core activity of DI is dredging and land reclamation. The knowledge, the experience and the skills we have acquired on our primary home market is made available for clients abroad. For more than a century, constituting companies of DI have worked in all corners of the world. At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, our engineers were building the inland grain harbours in Argentina; in the 1920’s they were constructing quay walls on the Mekong river in Southeast Asia. In the 1970’s we built the modern ports in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Annual turnover over the past five years has averaged around € 750 million. With investments of over € 500 million over the past three years, orders on hand are worth € 1 billion. Environmental activities account for 15 percent of Group turnover. The Group provides permanent jobs to 1.500 Belgian and Dutch employees. Including local workforce, total number of staff is around 3.000. DEME Group operates one of the most versatile and modern fleets in the world. The 75 highly specialized vessels include the “Pearl River”, the very first jumbo trailer ever which was recently expanded to a capacity of 24.176 m3 and which is equipped with a deep-dredging installation allowing dredging to minus 120 meters. Recent additions to the DEME fleet include the 5.000 m3 gravel dredger “Charlemagne”, the 13.700 m3 trailing suction dredger “Uilenspiegel”, and the 5.400 m3 “Pallieter” which was christened in February 2004. A new self-propelled seagoing mega rock cutter dredger has been ordered recently.

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ISO 9001/9002 VCA ISM DEME is ISO 9001/9002 VCA ISM. At the project level, the QA-HSES plan (Quality Assurance – Health, Safety, Environment and Security) describes the responsibilities and level of expertise on the site, the projected schedules and the required equipment and material. The “Outline Project Quality Plan” and the “Outline Safety and Environmental Plan” are as intrinsic a part of tender documents as financial and technical files. Safety and quality is a priority in all DEME activities. It is a responsibility of Group Management and a prime task of the QA-HSES-manager. A QA-engineer on the site and a QA-team at Group level supervise the quality system. Reviews by Group and company management contribute to enhanced performance and overall efficiency. We offer global solutions and we routinely team-up with the client on the basis of partnering principles - aiming at a win-win situation through co-operation. We are strongly committed to Quality Assurance schemes, as is reflected in a wide range of ISO certificates.