Belgium is a small country located in Western Europe. It has a population of over 11 million people and its three official languages are Dutch, French, and German. Belgium has a highly globalized economy and is well-connected by roads, ports, airports, and rail systems, making it an important gateway and transportation hub for trade within Europe. It has a strong international business environment and is home to many international organizations and companies due to its central location and access to EU decision-makers in Brussels.

1. EXCELLENCE THROUGH INTEGRITY
SLUYS INTERNATIONAL
THE SMALL WONDERLAND
BELGIUM

2. Sluys
International
Geographical size:
30,528 km2
Regions:
Flemish Region, Capital Region,
Walloon Region
Border countries:
Netherlands, France, Germany,
Luxembourg
Population:
11,258,434 million
Population density:
369 inhab./km²
Official Languages:
Flemish: 60%
French: 40%
German 0.4%
Conventional name:
Kingdom of Belgium
Head of state:
King Philippe
Prime Minister:
Charles Michel
Monetary Unit:
Euro (EUR)
Capital: Brussels
Major Cities:
Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Hasselt
In a Nutshell
BELGIUM

3. Sluys
International
Open Economy &
Business Environment
International
talent pool &
innovation
centre
Access to EU
decision-makers
Accessible to
Europe &
Worldwide
Belgium
Gateway to EU Markets
Heart of Europe
BELGIUM

4. Sluys
International
13,934km 1,763km
BELGIUM
Accessible to Europe & Worldwide
Regional &
provincial roads
Brussels National Airport
Belgium’s highway can be
seen from the moon
77 Airlines
489 tons
Cargo
International
Airports 5
CharleroiAntwerp
Ostend
Liège
Brussels
23,5 million
Passengers/year
226
Destinations
7 International
Motorways

5. Sluys
International
Sea Ports
Antwerpen Ghent
Ostend Zeebrugge
4
BELGIUM
Accessible to Europe & Worldwide
Electrified tracks
Antwerp (2nd in Europe,
4th in the world)
6
Brussels Liège Namur
Charleroi Meerhout Genk
High-Speed Trains
Thalys Eurostar TGV
InterCityExpress (ICE)
4
188 million
Passengers/year
2,950km
London 2h Amsterdam 1h50Paris 1h22 Frankfurt 3h
From Brussels to
62 million ton
Freight / year
Inland Ports
Waterway network
2,043km
Inland waterways
1,532km

6. Sluys
International
Gateway to EU Markets
Main Trading Partners:
BELGIUM
Exports:
EUR 359,5 billion
84,4% of GDP
Imports:
EUR 339,1 billion
82,7% of GDP
Chocolate
Friet
Beer
Azalea
Diamonds Billiard Balls
Germany
France
USA
Netherlands
UK
Belgian Products:

7. Sluys
International
Famous Belgians:
Father Ferdinand Verbiest, Antwerp Six
Eddy Merckx
1,2 million
Foreign citizens
Ideal test market,
Gateway to EU Markets
BELGIUM
11,29%
Share of foreign
nationals in EU
• Gateway to European market
• A microcosm of European
diversity
• Multicultural population
121,000 jobs
Created by
international
companies

8. Sluys
International
Access to EU decision-makers
BELGIUM
20,000
Lobbyists
1,500
International press
members
2,300
Foreign companies
42
Intergovernmental
organisations
5,400
Diplomats
3,063
International
organisations
20
EU Organisations
181
Embassies
• European Commission
• European Council
• European Parliament
• Committee of the
Regions
• European Economic
and Social Committee
• European Data
Protection Supervisor
• The European External
Action Service
European Institutions in Brussel
• NATO headquarters
• 1,500 International Professional
Federations (like N.G.O.s)
• Representation of most
European Political Parties and
Regions
Highest Concentration of Diplomatic Missions

9. Sluys
International
Open Economy & Business environment
BELGIUM
Cost-effective Market
OCCUPANCY COST PER SQ.M. PER YEAR - 2014
Brussels
Belgium
Munich
Germany
€393
London
UK
€506 €540
€895
€2,122
Paris
France
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Competitive Tax regime
• Open economy: Belgium features
a liberal business environment
No restrictions for foreigners
Numerous
corporate tax
deductions such
as notional interest
and capital gains
Favorable taxation
system for expat
employees
Advanced tax
ruling system
for legal
assurance
• No permission needed to
set up a company
• No limitation on repatriation of
capital and benefits
• 100% foreign
ownership is possible
• Ease of setting up a business • Approximate incorporation fee
(for a SA/NV): 1,500 €

10. Sluys
International
Belgium GDP
465,25 (US dollars, billions)
(2016)
BELGIUM
Rank 25
Ease of Doing Business
(2015)
Rank 43Real GDP growth
(% change) (2016)
1,2%
5,2 Global Competitiveness
Index (2015)
Rank 19
Investment and Development
(2015)
Rank 4
Appeal (2015)
Rank 20
Open Economy & Business environment

11. Sluys
International
BELGIUM
Brussels: Rank 3
European cities
Economic Potential
European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15
Ghent: Rank 6
Small European
CITIES
Ghent: Rank 2
Small European Cities
– FDI Strategy
Ghent: Rank 2,
Antwerp: Rank 10
European Cities
– FDI Strategy
Brussels: Rank 8
Major European
CITIES
Brussels: Rank 6
European Cities –
Infrastructure
Brussels: Rank 1
European Cities –
Human Capital and
Lifestyle
Brussels: Rank 8
European Cities –
Business Friendliness
Open Economy & Business environment

12. Sluys
International
International talent pool & innovation centre
BELGIUM
98% - Rank 6
Urban Population
Belgium (2015)
Brussels: Rank 12
Global Cities Index (2016)
Adecco Group, Knoema, A.T. Kearney
Brussels: Rank 22
Global Cities Outlook (2016)
Belgium: Rank 9
IMD World Talent
Report (2015)
Belgium: Rank 15
Knowledge Economy Index
(2012)
Belgium: Rank 18
Global Talent
Competitiveness Index
(2015-16)
Belgium: Rank 25
Global Innovation
Index (2015)

13. Sluys
International
International talent pool & innovation centre
BELGIUM
37%
Percentage of population 25-34 with
tertiary education (2014)
58%
Share of the population aged 25-64
who are bilingual (2011)
16
High-Level Universities
40,000
People work in the
European Institutions in
Brussels (2016)
13,546
People are employed by the
international and intergovernmental
institutions (2016)
30%
Of the population in Brussels are
foreigners (2016)
OECD, Brussels Commissioner for Europe

14. Sluys
International
A Great Place to Live
BELGIUM
Quality of Life
Work-life balance
Civic engagement
Education & skills
Income & wealth
Housing
Universal Healthcare
Schools & Childcare
12
World Heritage Sites
in Belgium
More castles
per square mile than
anywhere else in the world

15. Sluys
International
A Great Place to Live
BELGIUM
The town of Spa in Belgium is from where
we get the word 'spa' – Europe’s first modern
health resort.
Belgium was the scene of Napoleon’s final
defeat, at Waterloo.
Antwerp is the world's diamond capital,
Handling more than 80% of the world's diamonds.
Popular sports
Football: Red Devils
Cycling: Tour of Flanders, Eddy
Merckx, Tom Boonen
Tennis: Kim Clijsters,
Justine Henin-Hardenne

16. Sluys
International
Famous Belgians
BELGIUM
Audrey Hepburn
Actrisse
Jan Van Eyck
Painter
Peter Paul Rubens
Painter
René Magritte
Artist
Jacques Brel
Singer-songwriter
Hergé
Cartoonist
Victor Horta
Architect
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
Actor
Matthias Schoenaerts
Actor

17. Sluys
International
THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL
Ferdinand Peeters
THE DYNAMO
Zenobe Gramme
THE SAXOPHONE
Adolphe Sax
THE BODY MASS INDEX
Adolphe Quetelet
THE BIG BANG THEORY
Georges Lemaitre
IMODIUM
Paul Janssen
INLINE SKATES
Jean-Joseph Merlin
WORLD WIDE WEB
Robert Cailliau (co-inventor)
OIL PAINTING
Jan Van Eyck
ASPHALT
Edward De Smedt
THE JPEG CONVERSION
Ingrid Daubechies
CRICKET
Belgians
INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE
Étienne Lenoir
SODA
Ernest Solvay
AES ENCRYPTION
Joan Daemen, Vincent Rijmen
ARENALIFT
Stageco
CASSEROLE
Jean-Joseph Merlin
DRUPAL
Dries Buytaert
PEACE SIGN
Victor de Lavaleye
BELGIUM
THE MERCATOR
PROJECTION
Gerardus Mercator
Proud Inventions
ETC.

18. Sluys
International
BELGIUM
Belgian Culture
Friet Mussels Chocolate Waffle Beer
ASPARAGUS CHICORY
BELGIAN ENDIVEBRUSSELS SPROUTS
CHEESESGENEVER (GIN)
SPECULOOS
Food
Comic Strips
THE SMURFS TINTIN THE SNORKS ASTÉRIX ET OBÉLIX
LUCKY LUKE BLAKE & MORTIMER XIII THORGAL
KIEKEBOE JOMMEKE LARGO WINCH AMORAS
Festivals
Tomorrowland Rock Werchter Annual carnivals
Zythos Beer Festival Ommegang FestivalGentse Feesten
Ars Musica
Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique
Heilig Bloedprocessie
Jazz Marathon
The Arrival of St NicholasGhent Film Festival
La Ducasse
Sand sculptureMusica Antiqua
Sfinks
Klinkers

19. SLUYS INTERNATIONAL
Originally established in 1931, Sluys International is now
firmly established as a Duffel (B) based
manufacturer of flavour.
The dynamic Sluys team is a reflection of artists,
idealists and businessmen continuing to challenge new
frontiers of taste and smell.
WHERE SMELL, TASTE, SIGHT ARE BALANCED