Contact numbers of other wings of the Mission

Name of the country        : Kingdom of Belgium

Capital                           : Brussels

Name of Provinces and

Provincial capitals            : There are 10 provinces and three regions:

                                      Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels*, Flanders*, Hainaut,

                                      Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, OOst-Vlaanderen,

                                      Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen

                                      * three regions

Population                      : 10,364,388 (July, 2005 est.)

Area                              : 30,582 sq. kms.

Currency                        : Euro

Languages spoken            : Dutch (official) 60%, French(official) 40%, German(official) less

                                      than 1 % legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Time Zone                      : IST (-) 4 ½ hours(winter) ; -3 ½ hours(summer)

President                        : King ALBERT II

Prime Minister                  : Guy VERHOFSTADT

Foreign Minister               : Karel De Gucht

Defence Minister              : Andre Flahaut

Finance Minister               : Didier Reynders

Commerce Minister            : Marc Verwelghen (Min. for Energy, Foreign Trade, Economy & Science)

Banqe Nationale de Belgique, Blvd. de Berlaymont 14,

B-1000, Belgium

Tel: 32-2-221 21 11

Fax: 32-2-221-31 00

Since 1921 Belgium has had an economic union with Luxembourg - the Belgium -Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU). As members of the EU, with the exception of agriculture, both Belgium and Luxembourg have relatively open market economies. Although trade and investment figures have traditionally been combined for the two countries, separate data for Belgium was made available for the first time in 1998. Belgium leaders over the years have invested considerable time and energy in the EU integration process. Outside the EU the most important bilateral relationship is with USA and countries of central Africa (its former colonies). It pursues economic diplomacy with countries of Asia and Middle East and North Africa.

Belgium's top four export markets in 2004 were all in the EU, with Germany, France and the Netherlands ranking as Belgium's top three. The BLEU is a major trade entrepot for the rest of Europe.

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCT, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (non-regional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, diamonds, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Agricultural products; sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Belgium is located at the heart of one of the world's most highly industrialized regions. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 1800s, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. One of the founding members of the European Community (EC), Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union to integrate European economies.

With exports equivalent to about 69% of GDP (Euros 283 billion), Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium exports twice as much per capita as Germany and five times as much as Japan. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location, and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force.

The Belgian industrial sector can be compared to a complex processing machine: It imports 3 raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has virtually no natural resources. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.6% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for only 1.4% of the GDP.

Belgian Economy in the 20th Century:

Belgium is the 18th largest economy as per World Bank report of 2004. For 200 years through World War I, French-speaking Wallonia was a technically advanced, industrial region, while Dutch-speaking Flanders was predominantly agricultural. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. As Belgium emerged from World War II with its industrial infrastructure relatively undamaged, the stage was set for a period of rapid development, particularly in Flanders. The postwar boom years, enhanced by the establishment of the EU and NATO headquarters in Brussels, contributed to the rapid expansion of light industry throughout most of Flanders, particularly along a corridor stretching between Brussels and Antwerp (now the second-largest port in Europe after Rotterdam), where a major concentration of petrochemical industries developed.

The older, traditional industries of Wallonia, particularly steelmaking, began to lose their competitive edge during this period, but the general growth of world prosperity masked this deterioration until the 1973 and 1979 oil price shocks sent the economy into a period of prolonged recession. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift northward to Flanders. Today Flanders accounts for 80% of Belgian exports.

Foreign investment contributed significantly to Belgian economic growth in the 1960s. In particular, U.S. firms played a leading role in the expansion of light industrial and petrochemical industries in the 1960s and 1970s. The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. With regional devolution, Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia are now courting potential foreign investors and offer a host of incentives and benefits.

More than 1,400 U.S. firms invested over $24 billion in Belgium by 2001. U.S. and other foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. share at about 6%. U.S. companies are heavily represented in chemical, automotive assembly, and petroleum refining. A number of U.S. service industries followed in the wake of these investments--banks, law firms, public relations, accounting, and executive search firms. The resident American community in Belgium now exceeds 20,000. Attracted by the EU 1992 single-market program, many U.S. law firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989. Other foreign firms, particularly French ones, have invested locally for the same reason. Belgium has the second highest level of productivity per 4 worker in the world – second only to USA. Low cost energy and highly developed transport sector is very important in attracting investment. It has highest density of rail network in the world, 2nd largest seaport in Europe (Anwerp), 2nd largest petrochemical Centre, 5th largest Cargo airport in Europe.

Key indicators : GDP :               Euros 283 billion

                        Per Capita GDP: Euros 27,476

                        GDP Growth: 2.7 %

                        Unemployment rate: 7.8%

                        Inflation rate: 1.9%

    • Brussels University

    • Catholic University of Louvain

    • Faculté Polytechnique de Mons

    • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

    • Limburgs Universitair Centrum

    • Royal Military Academy

    • Université Libre de Bruxelles(ULB)

    • University of Antwerp

    • University of Ghent

    • University of Liège

    • University of Namur

    • Vesalius College (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Grand Place, Atomium, Waterloo, Mini-Europe, Bruge, Ieper

India enjoys traditional, warm and friendly relations with Belgium. Trade relations go back to the 17th century when ships sailed from Ostend to Indian ports. India established diplomatic relations with Belgium in 1948 and there has been regular interaction at high levels since then.

India and Belgium share common values of democracy, pluralism and rule of law and are committed to multilateralism in international relations. On the political side, India’s aim is to enhance interaction at the highest political level. During the visit of EAM in September 2004 and June 2005, he held detailed discussion with his Belgian counterpart Mr. Karel de Gucht on matters of bilateral international regional importance. Foreign Secretary Mr. Shyam Saran held in-depth discussions with the Belgian side during his visit in June, 2005. In a significant development Belgium has decided to co-sponsor the G-4 Resolution on UNSC reforms.

        • Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation- August 1997

        • Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement signed between India and BLEU in November 1997.

        • Cultural Agreement- September , 1973

        • Air Services Agreement- April, 1967

From Belgium:

Commercial and Economic relations are governed by Agreement on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation between BLEU and India in March 1990 and other EU and WTO Agreements. Belgium has emerged India’s second largest trade partners within EU with bilateral trade in 2004 at 6.49 billion euros, 75% of which is in diamonds. India’s aim is to diversify bilateral trade which is dominated by diamonds to areas of information and communication technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology where there is a tremendous potential for synergy. A delegation from Belgium led by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Commission visited India in January 2004 to study India’s economic and financial policies. At the popular level Belgium, but more so Antwerp, is known as the world’s diamond trade centre to which the Indian community based there has contributed greatly.

The liberalization of the Indian economy in the 1990s aroused Belgian interest in India. The initial interest translated into an increasing number of official and business visits to India in recent years. Crown Prince Philippe led three economic missions to India(1995,1998, 2005). The visits generated enormous interest on either side resulting in several viable deals in the form of joint ventures and technology tie-ups. According to the Secretariat for Industrial Assistance(SIA) Belgium’s total investment approvals into India for the period 1991- Sep.,2004 touched a record figure of Rs. 46,402.5 million (approx. US $ 1.2 billion), with 1998 being a particularly good year account for about 80% of this amount. The actual investment flows for this period, however, have not kept pace with the approvals. There are an estimated 231 joint ventures, most in the small and medium 8 category. Belgium Company Tractabael is the largest investor. BARCO and BEKAERT are established in India for many decades. During the 2005 visit of the Economic Mission, 5 MoUs were signed. CII signed 3 MOUs with Belgian companies Agoria, VBO, Flanders Institute of Logistics. IBA Pharma of Belgium and MK Ali Manekia, a non-resident Indian signed MoU for research and development activities in the health sector. IBA Molecular Imaging signed the MoU with Indian Diagnostic Laboratories of Dewang Chand Agrawal for Molecular Research.

Major items of Indian exports to Belgium are iron & steel products, minerals fuels, oils and products thereof, apparels and clothing accessories, organic chemicals, fishery products, man made staple fibres, electrical machinery etc. Major items of imports to India from Belgium are precious stones and metals, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, iron & steel products, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, plastic & its products, electrical machinery & equipments, photographic & cinematography equipments, measuring equipment, wood pulp etc. In the case of investment, some Indian companies have acquired business in Belgium. Matrix India took over Docpharma; Crompton Greaves India acquired Pauwels Group and Jubilant of India took over PSI.

A Belgian software and satellite manufacturing company Verhaert signed a contract with ISRO in April, 1998 for launching a 100 kg satellite through PSLV-C3 in the year 2000. The satellite was subsequently launched successfully from Sriharikota in August, 2001. This is the first time that an European company has ever come to a commercial agreement with ISRO for launching low orbit Satellites. An MOU for cooperation in space technology was signed between ISRO and the Techspace Aero during the Belgian Crown Prince’s visit in November, 1998. A seminar on cooperation in space sector and space related technologies was held in Bangalore during the visit of Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium in March, 2005. Belgian companies are participating in EU’s Galileo project with which India is negotiating a cooperation agreement.

A bilateral Cultural Agreement was signed with Belgium in September, 1973. A Cultural Exchange Programme(CEP) covering the years 1996-98 was signed with the Flemish Community in March, 1996. An India Study Centre was set up in Antwerp in 1996. There is a school of Indian classical music in Brussels and that of Indian classical dance in Ghent, both run by Belgian artists. Many Indian artists, even outside the CEP, visit Belgium. Embassy is planning an important cultural event in 2006 focusing on India’s diverse and 9 composite culture. Under CEP, an India-based ICCR –sponsored professor is currently teaching Hindi at the Belgian University of Ghent. Several Indian students are studying in Belgian universities, under scholarships provided by the Flemish/Belgian governments. The following ICCR sponsored troupes have performed in Belgium.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, offers three scholarships at the post-graduation levels to the Belgians. Similarly, the Ministry of Flemish Community, Administration of the Higher Education and Scientific Research offers three scholarships to the Indian students. These exchanges have been going on regularly between the two countries.

A number of students on self-financing basis are also studying in the University of Gent, University of Antwerp and University of Leuven.

There is a proposal for twinning of the cities of Antwerp & Surat.

A Gandhi statue is installed in Parc Marie Jose, Molenbeck, St. Jean, Brussels where every year Gandhi Jayanti is held with participation by the local Mayor and Indian community. City of Antwerp has a street named after Mahatma Gandhi. There is a proposal for installation of Mahatma Gandhi bust in Antwerp.

There are two main types of visa: (1) Schengen visa 2) short-term (tourist or business) or so-called C visa, and (3) long-term (student, family reunification or immigration) or socalled D visa. Before applying for a visa, the applicant has to submit an invitation letter, proof of sufficient financial means (or a pledge of financial support by a Belgian national), proof of air ticket reservation and accommodation and, if possible, other supporting documents (such as a rough itinerary in case of tourist visa.) If pledge of financial support is shown, make sure that guarantor has enough financial means to make it valid, and that this private person also provides you with the documents that prove this (such as salary or bank statements for instance). The applicant may also be requested to supply other supporting 10 documents. Most documents will have to be originals, duly legalized by the competent authorities. For more information contact Belgian Embassy, New Delhi at: http://www.diplomatie.be/newdelhi/

The approved route between India and Brussels is:

Delhi – Frankfurt(Air India) – Brussels (by foreign carrier)

Delhi- Paris-Brussels

Delhi- London-Brussels

Delhi-Paris(by air) and Paris-Brussels (by train)

Jet Airways is expected to start its operations very soon and will fly flights from India to

Brussels directly.

www.indembassy.be

There are about 7,000 persons of Indian origin in Belgium. Indian Communities are mainly in Antwerp and Brussels. There are about 250 families engaged in diamond trade in Antwerp. Many of the other Indians living in Belgium are professionals employed with either multinational companies or other professional organizations.

There are more than 10 Indian associations. The leading ones are Bhartiya Samaj, Antwerp Indian Association.

Major Indian ethnic papers/TV channels with contact details:

There are no Indian ethnic papers or TV channels in Brussels. But the following Indian journalists are stationed in Brussels: