Benelux
Belgium
It's a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters as well as those of several other major international organizations such as NATO. It has a population of about 11 million people. Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community (which constitutes about 59% of the population), and the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population (which comprises 41% of all Belgians). Additionally, there is a small group of German-speakers that are officially recognized. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking.
Why Business in Belgium?
Belgian exports amount to more than 80% of national GDP. Belgium is the 10th largest exporting country in the world. It's a flourishing marketplace, making the most of its location in the centre of Western Europe. Hosting many international organizations, Belgium is strongly integrated with the globalised world. The Belgian workforce has one of the highest productivity levels in the EU. Key factors contributing to this are the quality of the education system and the ability to speak multiple languages. Other attractive assets are the workforce's flexibility, versatility and eagerness to learn in changing working conditions and environments. The constructive social dialogue enhances a positive business climate. Furthermore, 35% of the labor force has at least one higher-education degree.
Netherlands
The European part of the Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east; and shares maritime borders with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one meter above sea level. The country is host to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and five international courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The first four are situated in The Hague, as is the EU's criminal intelligence agency Europol and judicial co-operation agency Eurojust. This has led to the city being dubbed "the world's legal capital". In May 2011, the Netherlands was ranked as the "happiest" country according to results published by the OECD.
Why Business in Netherlands?
The Netherlands provides a strategic location to serve markets within Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The central geographical position of the Netherlands, combined with accessibility and an excellent infrastructure, are only some of the reasons why numerous European, American and Asian companies have established their facilities in the Netherlands. Holland's open innovation approach and well organized public-private partnerships offer a favorable environment for companies looking for business acceleration. Together with a mind-set of creativity, collaboration and reliability - and a top scientific sector - Holland is able to guarantee the most important drivers in 'innovation location' choices for foreign investors. The Netherlands features one of the most highly educated, flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Dutch professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies across any industry, serving customers throughout the continent. What's more, Dutch law offers employers a range of contract possibilities to flexibly procure employees.
Luxembourg
It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Luxembourg has a population of 524,853 (as of October 2012) and an area of 2,586 square kilometers, making it one of the smallest sovereign nations in Europe. Luxembourg is a developed country, with an advanced economy and the world's second highest GDP (PPP) per capita according to the World Bank. Luxembourg is a member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations, and Benelux, reflecting its political consensus in favor of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg, which is the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the EU. Luxembourg is a trilingual country: Luxembourgish, French and German are official languages.
Why Business in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is an open, diversified and stable economy with a top GDP performance, state-of-the-art infrastructures and an excellent connectivity to markets in the EU and worldwide. Its central location can reach of 80 % of total EU market in less than a day. Ideally situated at the heart of Europe and benefiting from a skilled multicultural and multilingual workforce, Luxembourg is the leading centre for the cross-border distribution of investment funds. Asset managers from all over the world use Luxembourg as a gateway for capturing unmanaged assets and a future generation of investors. Luxembourg is at the forefront of the future of the asset management and asset servicing industry.
Benelux
