Brussels – Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

1. Brussels – Springboard for Europe Invest in Brussels

2. BELGIUM 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 Philippe I • Capital: Brussels

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

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

5. 7 MAIN ADVANTAGES Accessibility from all Europe & Worldwide Global gateway to key markets/ Ideal test market • Springboard for a Pan-European development International decision center International talent pool and innovation centre Competitive real estate Advantageous business environment High quality of life

6. 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 Importation 72% GDP

7. 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 cola and Fanta World Mango product in 2006.

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

9. 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)

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

11. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL Major multinationals have their decision center in Brussels • 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)

12. 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 6th on world basis (Education First, 2012) • 2nd European city in terms of number of languages spoken (European cities monitor, 2010)

13. TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER University degree Source: IMD World Competitiveness 2012 / 1-to-10 score

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

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

16. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 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. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 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 • Confidence to invest • Legally binding & accurate forecast Scope of applications Corporate tax, individuals tax, customs, VAT, etc.

18. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime 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) • Reduction of employment cost for expat’s

19. ADVANTAGEOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Cost-effective tax regime Foreign executive status Annual gross salary: EUR 75,000 Taxable: Tax free allowances: Tax due: EUR 9,997 or approx. 13% of gross salary

20. 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. HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE Brussels residential - High standards at competitive rates Average rent in urban location (appartment 120m2) Source: The Global Property Guide, Rental Yields, 2012

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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