Brussels Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

Transcription

1 Brussels Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

2 CETA Free trade agreement CANADA - EU In short: Much more than only taking down tariffs! Ceta s impact > Nafta s impact!! Mutual technical standards recognition Mutual diploma recognition Mutual access to public procurement markets (federal and sub-federal!) Smoother procedures at customs Free movement of people Etc 2

3 CETA Free trade agreement CANADA - EU Are you willing or considering to attack a 500 million people unified market (or parts of it) Germany, 82 million inhabitants France, 65 million inhabitants UK, 63 million inhabitans Italy, 60 million inhabitants Spain, 46 million inhabitants Poland, 38 million inhabitants Etc, etc, With a GDP larger than the USA? Then start now and do it from. 3

4 BELGIUM Federal state made of 3 Regions, more or less comparable to the Canadian Provinces Main competences of Belgian Regions: Economic policy & Foreign Trade Region development & Town planning Transport Scientific research 4

5 BELGIUM and particularly BRUSSELS At the boarder of 3 main European cultures 10,8 million inhabitants Official languages: French, Dutch, German Independant since 1830 Federal state since 1981 Head of state: King Albert II Capital: Brussels 5

6 BRUSSELS As a region Brussels-capital region: 162 km² 1,1 million inhabitants + more than commuters every day 30% foreigners 6

7 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

8 GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS A perfect assessment market Gateway to European market (Port of Antwerp, 2 nd port in Europe>Hamburg>Metro Vancouver) Multi-cultural population and workforce European diversity challenge on a small scale Exportation 74% GDP Importation 72% GDP 8

9 GLOBAL GATEWAY TO KEY MARKETS Successful test in Belgium = successful test in Europe Some examples 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

10 ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW Brussels - Connected to Europe 75 % of the EU Market (GDP) 40 % of the consumers 10

11 ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW European High Speed Trains Paris 1 hour connections / day London 1 hour connections / day Amsterdam 1 hour connections / day Francfort 3 hour 4 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) 11

12 INTERNATIONAL DECISION CENTER NATO/WEU EU Institutions Worldwide Press Center (1200 journalists) NGO Community Diplomatic Heartland (5300 diplomats) Industry/Corporate Centre (1500 federations) World s 2nd most important conference centre (Union of International Associations, 2011) 12

13 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL Major multinationals have their decision center in Brussels Approx foreign companies have set-up European HQ or sales subsidiary in Brussels Quoted as 4th business city in Europe, after London, Paris and Frankfurt, (Cushman & Wakefield Cities Monitor 2010) 13

14 TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER Human resources Brussels workforce is highly multilingual and multicultural 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 7th on world basis (Education First, 2011) 2nd European city in terms of number of languages spoken (European cities monitor, 2010) 14

15 TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER University degree - Higher Education Achievement Percentage of population with tertiary education Source: OECD Education at glance

16 COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE Cost-effective Office Market Office (prime rent location) Cushman & Wakefield, Office space across the world

17 ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 1. Tax incentive to risk capital : Notional Interest Deduction Principle Companies 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 17

18 ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 2. Fiscal Ruling Principle 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 Consequences Scope of applications Confidence to invest Legally binding & accurate forecast Corporate tax, individuals tax, customs, VAT, etc. 18

19 ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 3. Foreign executive status For the EMPLOYEE : Exclusion of days performed outside Belgium For the EMPLOYER : Reduction of employment cost for expat s Tax free allowances (relating to extra costs resulting from the Belgian employment) 19

20 ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 3. Foreign executive status Annual gross salary: EUR 75,000 Taxable: Annual gross: 75,000 Social security: -9,800 Tax free allow: -9,662 Balance 55,538 Tax free allowances: Cost of living: 2,500 Housing differential: 2,674 Tax equalisation: 4,488 9,662 40% travel: -22,215 Gross taxable: 33,323 Tax due: EUR 9,997 or approx. 13% of gross salary 20

21 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 21

22 HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE Brussels residential - High standards at competitive rates Average rent in urban location (appartment 120m 2 ) Source: The Global Property Guide, Rental Yields,

23 HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE An OPEN city for the expat 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 23

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 24

25 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 25

26 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

27 INVEST IN BRUSSELS C/O Brussels Invest & Export More information? Consulate of Belgium West Esplanade North Vancouver, V7M3J