3. • Supported by strong
infrastructure
• Excellent workforce
bilingual capacity
• Where businesses take
pride in quality
• Directly surrounded by
the largest EU markets
FLANDERS: GATEWAY TO EUROPE
7. UNIQUE LOCATION AT EUROPEAN
CROSSROADS
• 60% European buying power within 500 km radius
• In the middle of Europe’s most important industrial &
consumers centers
• Proximity to European institutions
• High density of knowledge clusters
8. IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN TRADE FLANDERS
• Export ratio GDP 101 %
• No. 9 export region in the
world
• Accounts for 3.11 % of
world exports
• 8,1 % of export to BRIC -
countries
9. THE ANTWERP-WAASLAND REGION =
KEY DRIVER OF THE FLEMISH ECONOMY
Seaport
Wholesales
center
diamonds
Petrochemical
hub
10. MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE
• Antwerp GDP = about 60 € BILLION / about 17 % of Belgian
total
• GDP / capita = 34 % higher than EU average
• 1/8th of jobs in Flanders are located in Antwerp (total jobs
Flanders 2010: over 2.600.000 )
• 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.
11. THE ANTWERP-WAASLAND REGION =
THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS
• 2nd largest in Europe/ 3rd European
container Port
• Largest European petrochemical
cluster, 2nd worldwide after Houston,
USA
• 5,6 million m² covered warehouses (+
2 x capacity of Rotterdam, +4 x capacity
of Hamburg)
• 184 million tons maritime cargo in
2012
• More than 145 000 employees (direct
and indirect)
• More than 19 billion € value added
Port of Antwerp
12. THE ANTWERP-WAASLAND REGION =
THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS
• 80 % of the world trade in rough
diamonds
• 1500 HQ of diamond companies
• Industry’s primary business centre
• World’s 2 largest diamond banks
• Represents nearly 15 % of Flemish
foreign trade (exports & imports)
• Diversification: jewellery confection &
trade
Diamonds
13. THE ANTWERP-WAASLAND REGION =
THREE PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS
• Largest cluster in Europe / second
largest in the world
• Smart logistics
• All pipelines lead to Antwerp
• Chemical Masters and bachelors
• Process innovation leading to energy
efficiency
• Sustainable development
• More than 300 different chemicals
• 22 % share of foreign trade in the region
• Employment (direct & indirect) =
66.000 jobs
• Increasing importance: + 4,4 % growth
per year
Petrochemical industry
14. THE ANTWERP REGION
Quality of life
• Antwerp was ranked nr 1 fashion
shopping hotspot 2011 by the NY
Times
• Everyone’s favorite sweet: Belgian
chocolate
• Gastronomy in Antwerp is a way of
life
• Antwerp offers visitors a rich
cultural experience: landmark ‘MAS’
and other interesting musea
16. CHARACTERISTICS
• A private institution, not funded by the
government
• Membership is not compulsory but based on
> competitiveness and added value services
> high cost-awareness and full transparency
• Our network consists of more than 3,000
corporate members
17. MISSION STATEMENT
• Defending their interests on a political level
• Offering a professional and unique network
• Promoting innovation and knowledge economy
Helping our entrepreneurs
• Promotion on a national and international level
• Increasing the general prosperity
• Lubricating the economic engine of Flanders
Advancing our region
18. 2
WE HELP COMPANIES GROW SINCE 1802
Our Chamber today:
3.000
members
50
employees
7
million
Euro TO/
year
1802 2013
offices
2002
merger with
Waasland
2004
Alliance
with Voka
21. • 95 % are SMEs
• Geographic area: administrative
districts of Antwerp and Waasland
• Sectorial composition reflects
the economic profile of the
Antwerp-Waasland Region:
Distribution, Finance, Industry,
Port, Services, Trade and
Commerce
WHO ARE OUR MEMBERS ?
23. 1. LOBBYING
• Political consultations on local, Flemish, federal and
European level.
• Defending the interests of all our companies
• Routeplan 2020
= large study about future potential of region
• Pro- actively envolved in organisations, commissions,
projects… (FIT, Gecoro, SERR, RESOC,…)
Listen - inform – communicate - lobby
24. 2. NETWORKING
• Receptions, lunches, forums, lectures, trade missions,
company visits etc
• Garden Party
• End of Year’s Reception
• Galery of Prominent People
• Youth Chamber for young entrepreneurs and high potentials
• Magazine ONDERNEMERS.
Local – regional – national - international
25. 3. SERVICES
• Bryo
• Export documents
• PLATO, Hermes
• Chamber Academy
• Business clubs : geographical or thematical
• Employment initiatives and competence development
Start – grow – innovate – internationalise
29. ANTWERP HEADQUARTERS
• Investment promotion
• Location management
• Tax, legal & HR support
• Networking
• Expat- welcome desk
• Offered via one-stop-shopping in
close partnership with our
structural and ad-hoc partners
Free of charge, objective & tailor made service
32. HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
‘If one does not know
to which port one is
sailing, no
wind is favorable’
- Seneca -
33. MORE INFORMATION?
Call the Chamber of Commerce 00 32 3 232 22 19 or mail
info.antwerpen@voka.be
Office Antwerp
Markgravestraat 12
2000 Antwerpen
Office Waasland
Kleine Laan 28
9100 Sint-Niklaas
