Belgium was able to exploit its geographical position, becoming one of the world’s major logistics hubs, thanks to a dense network of motorways, railways, rivers and airports. A key hub in Belgium’s intermodal logistics connection system is the port of Antwerp, ranked 2nd in Europe after Rotterdam.
In addition to the traditional sectors (chemical-pharmaceutical, heavy industry and automotive), logistics, ICT, biotechnology and renewable energy are driving Belgium into the globalized economy of the 21st century.
The country is among the most attractive, globalized and fiscally interesting in the Eurozone, thanks to legislative measures that favor entrepreneurship and taxation for companies, such as deductions and exemptions for investments in Research and Development.
Numerous science parks – often close to large university centers – are open to high-tech companies, including foreign ones, whose activity is focused on Research and Development.
For more information on the Belgian economy and how to do business in the country, you can consult:
- the Belgian page of the Economic Observatory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (statistical data on trade and FDI)
- the Belgian page of infoMercatiEsteri of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (economic and political outlook; market opportunities and partnership possibilities with local and/or Italian companies; promotional initiatives; obstacles to trade, critical issues in investments and possible risks; access to credit; overview of the Italian presence and bilateral relations)
- the Belgium.be page – economy of the Belgian Federal Government