BRAZIL-LATINAM WELCOME OFFICE in Wallonia - Brussels, Europe in your hands!
Wallonia – B el g i u m , you r bu si n e s s pa r t n er i n the he a r t o f Eu rop e
THE HEART OF EUROPE Wallonia-Brussels, economic and cultural crossroads in the true heart of Europe GB WALLONIA - BRUSSELS is the French-speaking part of BELGIUM, including Brussels, Capital of Europe, in the immediate vicinity of Western Europe’s major cities. The area is home to the main offices of the largest international institutions and the headquarters of many multinationals.
Rotterdam
London
With entertainment zones, gastronomy, tourism and the high quality of life found in the historical centre of Europe, Wallonia offers you the best place to distribute products inside the European market.
NL
Zeebrugge Dunkerque
In the heart of the most important distribution area in Northern Europe and at a few hours reach of Paris, Strasbourg, London, Amsterdam, The Hague, Luxembourg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and Geneva, Wallonia-Brussels is directly linked to all decision making centres in Europe. Wallonia provides a direct link to the sea ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. Its exceptional geographical position, transport and communication network with state of-the-art multimodal facilities afford Wallonia the potential to increase your profits. A qualified and multilingual workforce, which appreciates work and effort, and its readily available industrial and logistics fields permit very low investment and operating costs. Symbols of innovation and competitiveness, the Universities and Research Centres of the region give it a permanent added value in logistics supply chains.
Amsterdam
Antwerpen
Calais
Düsseldorf Maastricht
Köln
Bruxelles
Lille
Aachen Charleroi
LeHavre
B
Liège
D L
1h00
Luxembourg Reims
2h00
Metz
Saarbrücken
Paris
3h00
Strasbourg
F 4h30
Dijon
Zürich Basel
CH
6 competitiveness clusters (Aeronautics and Space, Agro-industry, Life Sciences, Transport and Logistics, Mechanical Engineering and Green Technologies) take part in the new growth dynamic initiated by the Government and position Wallonia-Brussels at the heart of the knowledge communities, with the support of Universities, Research and Training centres. New focus areas are green technology and eco-development.
Serving innovation Wallonia-Brussels, with its nine university centres housing 300 research facilities and 11,000 researchers, is world renowned for being innovative and research driven. This region has been the recipient of three Nobel Prizes. Original, creative, technology intensive and good value for money, Wallonia’s expertly designed and manufactured products are competitive on all points with the world’s best and its productivity is amongst the highest in the world. The information and communication technology market is growing by 10% a year and is supported by 2,500 graduates.
Qualified workforce Wallonia-Brussels has developed an extended, highly performing educational network of colleges, universities and graduate schools. Professional training is in line with the market requirements and large majority of graduates from high schools or universities get a job as soon as they finish their studies. Businesses benefit from a quality workforce: productivity is 20% higher than the European average.
Wallonia – Belgium, your bu si n e s s pa r t n er i n the he a r t o f Eu rop e
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Competitiveness Clusters and Corporate Networks
WA L L O N I A - B R U S S E L S O F F E R S TO L AT I N - A M E R I C A N C O M PA N I E S . . .
• Wallonia ranks at the 1st place for logistic investments & distribution in Europe (2009 Cushman & Wakefield’s survey) • The most concentrated road network in the world (lighting, safety, toll-free) • 375 million consumers within 8 hours drive (65 % of the European Market) • 2 international and cargo airports (accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, European hub of worldwide express integrator TNT) • Host of the EURO-CAREX platform (Cargo High Speed Train in Northern Europe) • More than 4000 acres available now in Industrial and Research Parks (Land and storage from 30 to 60 Euros/sqm)
THE HEART OF EUROPE
Infrastructure
WALLONIA-BRUSSELS OFFERS TO LATIN-AMERICAN COMPANIES...
The Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX) offers Latin-American companies the opportunity to prospect the European market in a new Brazil-Latinam WELCOME OFFICE based in Arlon (Wallonia), close to Luxembourg, France, and Germany, specially dedicated to Latin-American companies wishing to expand in Europe. Brand new offices and a wide array of personalized services are available FREE of charge (excluding telecommunications costs) to Latin-American companies who can devote themselves exclusively, at very low cost, to the growth of their business – and all this from a base in Belgium, affording maximum ease of travel to all major European cities.
Services of all types The Wallonia foreign Trade and Investment Agency (Awex) offers in partnership with the Economic Development Agency of the Province of Luxembourg IDELUX and the Science Parks of Wallonia (SPOW): • A specialized office for Latin-American companies to launch their activities in Europe (based in Arlon): THE BRAZIL-LATINAM WELCOME OFFICE • Ultra-modern telecom services (high-speed Internet access, videoconference…) • Hi-tech business centres equipped to welcome companies and accelerate growth • Networking with specialized sector-specific clusters (Aerospace, Life Sciences, Agro-food, Mechanical Engineering,Logistics, Cleantech...) • Training and economic support to create your own distribution business in the heart of Europe
Connections throughout Europe But also: • Dissemination of information to companies operating in science parks • Promotion of technology transfer between research and industry, with many European partners • Inter-company clustering (networking with innovative businesses at European level, creating opportunities for technological exchanges between players from industry and/or research) • Access to EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROGRAMS through experts directly connected to the relevant departments of the European Commission in Brussels
Wallonia – Belgium, you r bu si n e s s pa r t n er i n the he a r t o f Eu rop e
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
• The permanent presence of a quadrilingual expert (French-English-Spanish-Portuguese) • Advice with practical and logistical matters (visas, travel permits, setting up a corporation, legal issues, regulatory affairs, grants, hiring personnel, etc.) • Assistance with initial prospection in the European market (e.g. market studies) • Networking with leading European professionals in your industry • Outreach to the network of Wallonia’s trade and investment offices in Europe (more than 50 offices in major European cities)
WA L L O N I A - B R U S S E L S O F F E R S TO L AT I N - A M E R I C A N C O M PA N I E S . . .
Personalized service (free of charge)
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
The Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency (AWEX) is the one-stop shop for all prospective foreign investors wanting to locate in Wallonia. Our commitment is to help foreign companies start their activities successfully and integrate them into European Economic Networks. We offer foreign companies links with local authorities, universities and technological partners thanks to special relationships with local real estate agencies and the Science Parks of Wallonia. Apart from this initial ÂŤkick-startÂť, we also organize meetings with experts from various federal and regional departments and guide you through the relevant administrative steps. As a foreign trade agency, AWEX carries out a mission of promotion and export support for the benefit of both Wallonia and the foreign business community. Our team of specialized multilingual advisors will assist you personally from the feasibility study through to the realization of your investment and export strategy. Our experts will be pleased to help at every stage of your activities.
OUR MISSION is to provide invaluable advice and guide you through the following steps, in particular: • Search for locations and buildings • Assistance to incorporate your company (access to risk capital, legal and logistics support) • Advice and assistance in the search for suitable human resources (including training programs) • Assistance to obtain grants provided by regional and European authorities. Depending on location, the combined subsidy from both regional and EU sources can amount to as much as 50% of the investment • Tax support: Effective tax rate - Expatriate regime (unique in Europe) - Fiscal ruling (prior agreement with the Fiscal Administration) - Holding company Fiscal regime - Fiscal immunization regime - Real-estate tax exemption and Notional interest deduction tool (unique in Europe)
Technological support • Business plans: study of viability of the business plan on a technical, commercial and financial basis • Research funding: preparing for the fundraiser • Access to public incentives: analysis and personalized action of available public support • Advice for Patent income deduction, deduction for investments in R&D centers and patents (direct grant up to 70% of intervention for a SME if innovative quality of the project and expected results generated within the region)
Export support Foreign companies choosing Wallonia as European hub to distribute their products inside European markets can benefit from export-oriented services such as: • General and commercial information on European and foreign markets (AWEX has more than 50 offices in Europe) • Organization and planning of marketing activities (international trade shows, economic missions, sector-based contact days…) • Establishing contacts with business federations and international organizations • Financial support and export financing • Training in international careers and free traineeships
Wallonia – Belgium, you r bu si n e s s pa r t n er i n the he a r t o f Eu rop e
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Investment support
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BRAZIL-LATINAM WELCOME OFFICE
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IDELUX Drève de l’Arc-en-Ciel, 98 B - 6700 Arlon Belgium
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Sortie 32 VERS VIRTON
In Belgium:
Argentina: Martin CARDOEN buenosaires@awex-wallonia.com
Colombia: Marjorie INGHELS bogota@awex-wallonia.com
Brazil: Nasser BELALIA saopaulo@awex-wallonia.com
Mexico: Rodrigo DOS SANTOS ALVES GARCIA mexico@awex-wallonia.com
Chile: María Liliana HERRERA santiago@awex-wallonia.com
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AWEX Offices in Latin America:
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N81
Av. du Bois-d'Arlon
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Sortie 31
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GERMANY
CHARLEROI
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NAMUR
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TOURNAI
ARLON
N82
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BRUXELLES
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Route de Bouillo
Route d'Etalle
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Stockem
N83
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Sortie 30
BOUILLON FLORENVILLE
GENK
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MECHELEN
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OOSTENDE
ANVERS
BRUGGE
Francis KANIA Director Americas Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency (AWEX) 2 Place Sainctelette 1080 Bruxelles Tel: +32 2/421.84.98 • Fax: +32 2/421.87.75 Email: f.kania@awex.be Website: www.investinwallonia.be
Weyier
VERS FRANCE
bo
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