Brussels – Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

Brussels – Springboard for EuropeInvest in Brussels

Invest in Brussels 2

BELGIUMAt 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


BELGIUMFederal state made of 3 Regions

Main competences of Belgian Regions:

• Economic policy & Foreign Trade

• Region development & Town planning

• Transport

• Scientific research


BRUSSELSAs a region

Brussels-capital region:

• 19 municipalities

• 162 km²

• 1,1 million inhabitants

• 30% foreigners

7 MAIN ADVANTAGES

Global gateway to key markets/ Ideal test market

Springboard for a Pan-European development

International decision center

Competitive real estate

High quality of life

Accessibility from all Europe & Worldwide

International talent pool and innovation centre

Advantageous business environment


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

Importation72% GDP

Exportation74% GDP


GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETSSuccessful 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.


ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WWBrussels - Connected to Europe

75 %of the EU

Market (GDP)

40 %of the

consumers


ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW

European High Speed Trains

•Paris – 1 hour 2019 connections / day

•London – 1 hour 5516 connections / day

•Amsterdam – 1 hour 5510 connections / day

•Francfort – 3 hour4 connections / day

Air connections

•Located at 12 km from the Brussels city centre

•225 passenger connections, including 135 to Europe

•41 « cargo only » destinations worldwide

•Best European Airport (World Routes 2010)


INTERNATIONAL DECISION CENTER

NATO/WEU EU Institutions

Worldwide Press Center

(1200 journalists)

World’s 2nd most important conference centre

(Union of International Associations, 2012)

Industry/Corporate Centre

(1500 federations)Diplomatic Heartland

(5300 diplomats)

NGO Community


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL

• 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)

Major multinationals have their decision center in Brussels


• 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)

Brussels workforce is highly multilingual

TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTERHuman resources


TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER

University degree

Source: IMD World Competitiveness 2012 / 1-to-10 score


TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTEREU Innovation Performance

Source: EU Commission, DG Enterprise, 2011

EU member states’ innovation performance


COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATECost-effective Office Market

Cushman & Wakefield, Office space across the world 2012

Office (prime rent location)


ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTCost-effective tax regime

1. Tax incentive to risk capital : Notional Interest Deduction

PrincipleCompanies are allowed to claim a notional interest deduction reflecting the economic cost of using capital, equal to LT risk free financing.

Consequences Reduced effective tax rate



2. Fiscal Ruling

PrincipleThe 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

Consequences • Confidence to invest• Legally binding & accurate forecast

Scope of applications

Corporate tax, individuals tax, customs, VAT, etc.



3. Foreign executive status

For the EMPLOYEE :

• Exclusion of days performed outside Belgium

• Tax free allowances (relating to extra costs resulting from the Belgian employment)

• Reduction of employment cost for expat’s

For the EMPLOYER :


ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime

3. Foreign executive status

Annual gross salary: EUR 75,000

Tax due: EUR 9,997 or approx. 13% of gross salary

Annual gross: 75,000

Social security: -9,800

Tax free allow: -9,662

Balance 55,538

Cost of living: 2,500

Housing differential: 2,674

Tax equalisation: 4,488

9,662

40% travel: -22,215

Gross taxable: 33,323

Taxable: Tax free allowances:


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


HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE Brussels residential - High standards at competitive rates

Source: The Global Property Guide, Rental Yields, 2012

Average rent in urban location (appartment 120m2)


HIGH QUALITY OF LIFEAn 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


BRUSSELS INVEST & EXPORTPromotes, 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


OUR SERVICESContact point for the foreign investors in Brussels

• 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

We can bring support in the following areas:


TRY IT!With the Brussels Business Welcome Package

Opportunity to « test » BrusselsOpportunity to « test » Brussels

Our offer to foreign investors

Easy access to Brussels Invest & Export business Experts and partners

Easy access to Brussels Invest & Export business Experts and partners

Evaluate the potential of your project in loco

Evaluate the potential of your project in loco


INVEST IN BRUSSELS TO SUPPORT YOU…Before & after investment decision

• A portal for all the foreign investors in Brusselswww.investinbrussels.com

• How to set-up and manage your company in Brussels:www.abe.irisnet.be

• Government and European financial supportwww.ecosubsibru.be

• All you need to know if you want to do tourism or organise a congress in Brusselswww.visitbrussels.be

• Find the ideal location in Brusselswww.sdrb.irisnet.be

• The Brussels Chamber of Commercewww.beci.be


INVEST IN BRUSSELSC/O Brussels Invest & Export

Avenue Louise, 5001050 Brussels+32 (0)2 800 40 63www.investinbrussels.com

Jacques [email protected]

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

Documents

Brussels – Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels