Belgium
Belgium
Belgium is the 21st largest economy in the world and hosts the
“We’ve transformed Solutia into one of the preeminent specialty chemical companies in the world and we’ve built around the world to serve our customers.” – Jeffry Quinn, President and CEO of Solutia
Missouri’s Belgium Owned Companies: Anheuser-Busch InBev - St. Louis
Missouri Company With Connections To Belgium: Solutia - St. Louis
Education: University of Missouri - Columbia College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANFR) study abroad program in Brussels, Belgium; School of Journalism Brussels internship program
headquarters of NATO and is the capital of the European Union. Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe. The Belgian population is considered representative of the overall European consumer and is often viewed as a test market for companies looking to expand into Europe.
Quick Facts GDP:
$412 billion (2011 est.) (U.S. = $15.04 trillion)
Currency:
Euro (EUR)
Language:
Dutch, French, German
Population:
10,431,477 (July 2011 est.) (U.S. = 313,232,044)
Land Area:
30,528 sq km (≈18,969 miles)
Major Cities
Brussels (Capital), Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, Charleroi
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, logistics
Agricultural:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco, beef, veal, pork, milk
Infrastructure Number of Ports:
4
Number of Airports:
43
Major Airports:
Zaventem Brussels International Airport, Charleroi, Antwerp
Railways:
3,233 km (≈2,009 miles)
Waterways:
2,043 km (≈1,269 miles)
Data Sources: CIA World Factbook, ITI Offices, Missouri Partnership, The World Bank, U.S. Commercial Service Commercial Guide, U.S. Department of State Background Note
Solutia in Belgium Solutia Inc. (www.solutia.com) is a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals vital to the evolving global economy. Solutia is the world’s largest producer of plastic interlayer for laminated glass used in automotive and architectural applications. With a manufacturing site in Brussels and more than 50 locations across five continents, over 75 percent of sales come from outside the United States. Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri since 1901, Solutia employs 3,400 people globally and had 2010 revenues of $1.9 billion.
The World Bank ranks Belgium 28th out of 183 countries for ease of doing business.
Missouri Trade
Belgium ranks 22nd among 178 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.
Belgium is Missouri’s 6th largest export partner, with exports to Belgium accounting for 3.8 percent of Missouri’s total exports in 2011. Missouri exports to Belgium totaled $543.3 million in 2011, up over $67.6 million, or 14.2 percent, from 2010.
Missouri Trade Continued Top Five Missouri Export Commodities to Belgium Code
29 87 38 27 26
Description
Organic Chemicals Vehicles, except Railway or tramway, and parts, etc Miscellaneous Chemical Products Mineral Fuel, Oil etc, Bitumin Subset, Mineral Wax Ores, Slag, and Ash
Annual 2011
$260,952,523 $61,643,361 $38,772,233 $37,402,952 $28,286,254 Organic chemicals, miscellaneous chemical products, vehicles, ores, slag, ash and mineral fuel were the top commodities exported to Belgium for 2011.
Market Opportunities »» Biotechnology
»» Environmental Technologies
»» Chemicals and Plastics
»» Green Building
»» Dental Equipment
»» Energy and Renewable Energy
»» Medical Devices
»» Travel and Tourism
Services The International Trade & Investment Office has eight foreign offices that provide trade promotion and export transaction assistance to existing Missouri firms. The offices also play a major role in foreign direct investment lead generation within their respective markets. The offices are located in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan. The International Trade & Investment Office provides the following services to Missouri firms: Advocacy, Agent/Distributor Search, Background Check, Business Protocol, Certificate of Free Sale, Customized Company Trade Missions, Export Finance, Market Research, Trade Counseling, and Trade Shows. Please contact our office for more information on the services provided.
Data sources: The World Bank, U.S. Commercial Service Commercial Guide, WISERTrade
Market Challenges »» Slow economic recovery »» Strict labor regulations »» Cultural, linguistic, and economic differences
among the market’s three regions »» Differing local laws throughout the country
Helpful Resources/Links »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/be.html Ex-Im Bank: http://www.exim.gov Trade Events: http://www.export.gov/tradeevents U.S. Commercial Service -Doing Business in Belgium: http://www.buyusainfo.net/docs/x_5009117.pdf U.S. Commercial Service: http://export.gov/ U.S. Department of State-Background Note Belgium: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm U.S. Export Control Information: http://www.bis.doc.gov/
Missouri International Trade and Investment Office • 301 W. High St, Ste 720 • PO Box 118 • Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: 1-573-751-4855 • Email: [email protected] www.ded.mo.gov
Belgium is the 21st largest economy in the world and hosts the
“We’ve transformed Solutia into one of the preeminent specialty chemical companies in the world and we’ve built around the world to serve our customers.” – Jeffry Quinn, President and CEO of Solutia
Missouri’s Belgium Owned Companies: Anheuser-Busch InBev - St. Louis
Missouri Company With Connections To Belgium: Solutia - St. Louis
Education: University of Missouri - Columbia College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANFR) study abroad program in Brussels, Belgium; School of Journalism Brussels internship program
headquarters of NATO and is the capital of the European Union. Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe. The Belgian population is considered representative of the overall European consumer and is often viewed as a test market for companies looking to expand into Europe.
Quick Facts GDP:
$412 billion (2011 est.) (U.S. = $15.04 trillion)
Currency:
Euro (EUR)
Language:
Dutch, French, German
Population:
10,431,477 (July 2011 est.) (U.S. = 313,232,044)
Land Area:
30,528 sq km (≈18,969 miles)
Major Cities
Brussels (Capital), Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, Charleroi
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, logistics
Agricultural:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco, beef, veal, pork, milk
Infrastructure Number of Ports:
4
Number of Airports:
43
Major Airports:
Zaventem Brussels International Airport, Charleroi, Antwerp
Railways:
3,233 km (≈2,009 miles)
Waterways:
2,043 km (≈1,269 miles)
Data Sources: CIA World Factbook, ITI Offices, Missouri Partnership, The World Bank, U.S. Commercial Service Commercial Guide, U.S. Department of State Background Note
Solutia in Belgium Solutia Inc. (www.solutia.com) is a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals vital to the evolving global economy. Solutia is the world’s largest producer of plastic interlayer for laminated glass used in automotive and architectural applications. With a manufacturing site in Brussels and more than 50 locations across five continents, over 75 percent of sales come from outside the United States. Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri since 1901, Solutia employs 3,400 people globally and had 2010 revenues of $1.9 billion.
The World Bank ranks Belgium 28th out of 183 countries for ease of doing business.
Missouri Trade
Belgium ranks 22nd among 178 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.
Belgium is Missouri’s 6th largest export partner, with exports to Belgium accounting for 3.8 percent of Missouri’s total exports in 2011. Missouri exports to Belgium totaled $543.3 million in 2011, up over $67.6 million, or 14.2 percent, from 2010.
Missouri Trade Continued Top Five Missouri Export Commodities to Belgium Code
29 87 38 27 26
Description
Organic Chemicals Vehicles, except Railway or tramway, and parts, etc Miscellaneous Chemical Products Mineral Fuel, Oil etc, Bitumin Subset, Mineral Wax Ores, Slag, and Ash
Annual 2011
$260,952,523 $61,643,361 $38,772,233 $37,402,952 $28,286,254 Organic chemicals, miscellaneous chemical products, vehicles, ores, slag, ash and mineral fuel were the top commodities exported to Belgium for 2011.
Market Opportunities »» Biotechnology
»» Environmental Technologies
»» Chemicals and Plastics
»» Green Building
»» Dental Equipment
»» Energy and Renewable Energy
»» Medical Devices
»» Travel and Tourism
Services The International Trade & Investment Office has eight foreign offices that provide trade promotion and export transaction assistance to existing Missouri firms. The offices also play a major role in foreign direct investment lead generation within their respective markets. The offices are located in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan. The International Trade & Investment Office provides the following services to Missouri firms: Advocacy, Agent/Distributor Search, Background Check, Business Protocol, Certificate of Free Sale, Customized Company Trade Missions, Export Finance, Market Research, Trade Counseling, and Trade Shows. Please contact our office for more information on the services provided.
Data sources: The World Bank, U.S. Commercial Service Commercial Guide, WISERTrade
Market Challenges »» Slow economic recovery »» Strict labor regulations »» Cultural, linguistic, and economic differences
among the market’s three regions »» Differing local laws throughout the country
Helpful Resources/Links »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/be.html Ex-Im Bank: http://www.exim.gov Trade Events: http://www.export.gov/tradeevents U.S. Commercial Service -Doing Business in Belgium: http://www.buyusainfo.net/docs/x_5009117.pdf U.S. Commercial Service: http://export.gov/ U.S. Department of State-Background Note Belgium: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm U.S. Export Control Information: http://www.bis.doc.gov/
Missouri International Trade and Investment Office • 301 W. High St, Ste 720 • PO Box 118 • Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: 1-573-751-4855 • Email: [email protected] www.ded.mo.gov
