 A strong economy  Supported by strong infrastructure  Excellent workforce bilingual capacity  Where businesses take pride in quality  Directly surrounded by the largest EU markets Antwerp FLANDERS: A GATEWAY TO EUROPE

FLANDERS AND ANTWERP Distance Antwerp Amsterdam161 km London337 km Paris340 km Berlin723 km

Luc Luwel / 2 oktober 2008 Algemene voorstelling 3 TRAVELING TIMES TO/FROM

 60 % of EU purchasing power lies within 600 km => short delivery & travel times.  Proximity to European headquarters of major commercial & official organisations => lobby activities.  Open to different approaches due to being located amongst three major cultures : German and Nordic, Anglo- Saxon and Latin => ideal business ethos and workforce.  Companies which reffered to Belgium as test market/invested in => good examples  In the Life Sciences: Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, AstraZeneca  In ICT: British Telecom, Philips, ST Microelectronics  In Chemicals: BASF, Bayer, Kaneka, Nippon Shokubai  In Food Products: Heinz, Procter & Gamble, Tropicana  In Logistics: Caterpillar Logistics, Deutsche Post, NYK UNIQUE LOCATION AT EUROPEAN CROSSROADS

 Population: 6.1 million (58%)  Companies: 480,433 (66%)  Employment:  2,000,000 salaried  400,000 self-employed  Exports: €247 billion (81%) KEY FIGURES FOR FLANDERS

 Importance of foreign trade for Flanders: export ratio GDP 101%  No. 9 export region in the world  Accounts for 3.11% of world exports IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN TRADE FOR FLANDERS EXPORT RATIO GDP (in %)

leading seaport world wholesale center of diamonds petrochemical hub THE ANTWERP-WAASLAND REGION = KEY DRIVER OF THE FLEMISH ECONOMY

 Of Belgium’s total GDP, region is good for 17% or €57.3 billion.  The city employs more than one eighth of the population of Flanders.  Purchasing power parity is 34% above the E.U. average.  Several universities, colleges and knowledge centers contribute to Antwerp’s innovative business angle and talent base.  Highly favorable economic climate for businesses from every sector of the market. MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE

1. Port of Antwerp  2nd largest in Europe, 5th in the World  Fast growing logistic and distribution centre  Largest storage supplier in Europe : 5.4 million m² of warehousing with specialised handling and storage in “supermarket of Europe”  Strong chemical and petrochemical sector  Value of Maritime Trade: 178,2 million tons in 2010  Employment (direct and indirect): 148,000 jobs THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS

2. Diamond  1500 diamond firms and four diamond exchanges within an area of less than 1km 2.  80% of the world’s rough diamond trade.  Represents nearly 15% of Flemish foreign trade (exports and imports).  Diversification: jewellery confection and trade. THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS

Three Pillars of Competitiveness 3. Petrochemical industry  Second largest petrochemical network in the world after Houston  22% share of foreign trade of the region  Employment (direct and indirect): 66,000 jobs  Increasing importance: +4.4% growth per year THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS