Brussels Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels BELGIUM

Brussels – Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

BELGIUM At the boarder of 3 main European cultures • 10, 8 million inhabitants • Official languages : French, Dutch, German • Independant since 1830 • Federal statesince 1981 • Head of state : King Philippe I • Capital: Brussels Invest in Brussels 2

BELGIUM Federal state made of 3 Regions Main competences of Belgian Regions: • Economic policy & Foreign Trade • Region development & Town planning • Transport • Scientific research Invest in Brussels 3

BRUSSELS As a region Brussels-capital region: • 19 municipalities • 162 km² • 1, 1 million inhabitants • 30% foreigners Invest in Brussels 4

7 MAIN ADVANTAGES Springboard for a Pan-European development Global gateway to key markets/ Ideal test market Accessibility from all Europe & Worldwide International decision center International talent pool and innovation centre Competitive real estate Advantageous business environment High quality of life

GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS A perfect assessment market • Gateway to European market (Port of Antwerp) • Multi-cultural population • European diversity challenge on a small scale Exportation 74% GDP Invest in Brussels Importation 72% GDP 6

GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS Successful test in Belgium = successful test in Europe H&M maintains a pilot store in Belgium in order to market-test all its newest clothing collections. The Coca-Cola compagny has tested over 1, 000 products in Belgium, including the well-received Coca-Cola Light Sango colaand Fanta World Mango product in 2006. Invest in Brussels 7

ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW Brussels - Connected to Europe 75 % of the EU Market (GDP) 40 % of the consumers Invest in Brussels 8

ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW European High Speed Trains Air connections • Paris – 1 hour 20 19 connections / day • Located at 12 km from the Brussels city centre • London – 1 hour 55 16 connections / day • 225 passenger connections, including 135 to Europe • Amsterdam – 1 hour 55 10 connections / day • 41 « cargo only » destinations worldwide • Francfort – 3 hour 4 connections / day Invest in Brussels • Best European Airport (World Routes 2010) 9

INTERNATIONAL DECISION CENTER NATO/WEU Worldwide Press Center (1200 journalists) EU Institutions NGO Community Diplomatic Heartland (5300 diplomats) Industry/Corporate Centre (1500 federations) World’s 2 nd most important conference centre (Union of International Associations, 2012) Invest in Brussels 10

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL Major multinationals have their decision center in Brussels • Approx. 1. 300 foreign companies have setup European HQ or sales subsidiary in Brussels • Quoted as 6 th business city in Europe , after London, Paris and Frankfurt, (Cushman & Wakefield Cities Monitor 2011) Invest in Brussels 11

TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER Human resources Brussels workforce is highly multilingual • Brussels is a bi-lingual city (french – dutch) • The presence of several international organisations attracts large panel of foreigners (30% of the population ) • English proficiency Index: Brussels 6 th on world basis(Education First, 2012) • 2 nd European cityin terms of number of languages spoken (European cities monitor, 2010) Invest in Brussels 12

TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER University degree Germany 7. 57 Belgium 7. 53 Netherlands 7. 06 USA 6. 91 UK 6. 26 France Japan 5. 77 3. 89 Source: IMD World Competitiveness 2012 / 1 -to-10 score Invest in Brussels 13

TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER EU Innovation Performance EU member states’ innovation performance Source: EU Commission, DG Enterprise, 2011 Invest in Brussels 14

COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE Cost-effective Office Market Office (prime rent location) Cushman & Wakefield, Office space across the world 2012 Invest in Brussels 15

ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 1. Tax incentive to risk capital : Notional Interest Deduction Principle Consequences Invest in Brussels Companies are allowed to claim a notional interest deduction reflecting the economic cost of using capital, equal to LT risk free financing. Reduced effective tax rate 16

ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 2. Fiscal Ruling Principle Consequences Scope of applications Invest in Brussels The investor describes the facts, allowing the tax administration to determine, in advance, how the tax laws are to be applied on a case by case basis • Confidence to invest • Legally binding & accurate forecast Corporate tax, individuals tax, customs, VAT, etc. 17

ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 3. Foreign executive status For the EMPLOYEE : For the EMPLOYER : • Exclusion of days performed outside Belgium • • Tax free allowances (relating to extra costs resulting from the Belgian employment) Invest in Brussels Reduction of employment cost for expat’s 18

ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 3. Foreign executive status Annual gross salary: EUR 75, 000 Taxable: Tax free allowances: Annual gross: 75, 000 Cost of living: 2, 500 Social security: -9, 800 Housing differential: 2, 674 Tax free allow: -9, 662 Tax equalisation: 4, 488 Balance 55, 538 40% travel: 9, 662 -22, 215 Gross taxable: 33, 323 Tax due: EUR 9, 997 or approx. 13% of gross salary Invest in Brussels 19

ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT No restrictions 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 Invest in Brussels 20

HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE Brussels residential - High standards at competitive rates Average rent in urban location (appartment 120 m 2) 6000 5284 Euro/Month 5000 4397 4000 3000 2376 2000 1438 1698 1862 1865 Frankfurt Milan Madrid 1000 0 Brussels Amsterdam Paris London Source: The Global Property Guide, Rental Yields, 2012 Invest in Brussels 21

HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE An OPEN city for the expat • 140. 000 European foreigners live in Brussels • Life cost is cheaper than in most of the other European capitals • Wide range of international schools, offering English and American programs • High quality health care system Invest in Brussels 22

BRUSSELS INVEST & EXPORT Promotes, attracts and retains foreign direct investments in Brussels • Funded by the Brussels-Capital Region • Created in 2003 • Team composed of 50 employees • High level network within Brussels Invest in Brussels 23

OUR SERVICES Contact point for the foreign investors in Brussels We can bring support in the following areas: • Tax and legal advices • Company registration • Build up local high level network • Prospection of an office or a site • Funding & public financial support • Guidance to public bodies • Recruitment & employment legislation • Sectoral expertise & market intelligence • Technological transnational partnerships Invest in Brussels 24

TRY IT! With the Brussels Business Welcome Package Our offer to foreign investors Opportunity to « test » Brussels Easy access to Brussels Invest & Export business Experts and partners Evaluate the potential of your project in loco Invest in Brussels 25

INVEST IN BRUSSELS TO SUPPORT YOU… Before & after investment decision • A portal for all the foreign investors in Brussels www. investinbrussels. com • How to set-up and manage your company in Brussels: www. abe. irisnet. be • Government and European financial support www. ecosubsibru. be • All you need to know if you want to do tourism or organise a congress in Brussels www. visitbrussels. be • Find the ideal location in Brussels www. sdrb. irisnet. be • The Brussels Chamber of Commerce www. beci. be Invest in Brussels 26

INVEST IN BRUSSELS C/O Brussels Invest & Export Avenue Louise, 500 1050 Brussels +32 (0)2 800 40 63 www. investinbrussels. com Invest in Brussels Jacques Evrard Director jevrard@mbhg. irisnet. be 27

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