Flanders can boast more than delicious pralines and the finest of beers. Its excellent infrastructure, highly skilled people and inspirational atmosphere result in the highest quality of products and services of any sort. Thanks to the many advantages the region has to offer, Flanders hosts a number of key players in niche industries, such as fashion, cars, textiles, chemicals and ICT that have made it to the top of their markets.

1. 10 goodreasons to investin Flanders

2. Allow us to give you 10 different reasons why Flanders is Europe’s ultimate location for your business activities. 10crucial arguments which are the baseof all sound investment decisions. You will be surprised to see the wide range of advantages our region has to offer you… 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

3. Central location at the heart of Europe Outstanding transport infrastructure Globally recognized human capital Divers offering of tax benefits and fiscal incentives Sustainable growth for major industries State-of-the-art research centers High density of knowledge clusters Excellent results in international surveys High quality of life for expat employees Professional support in setting up your operations 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

4. Central location at the heart of Europe 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

5. Reason 1: Centrally located at the heart of Europe Two crucial factors for your company when making an investment decision in Europe: Flanders is a prime business region, strategically located in the center of the most prosperous part of Europe. The capital Brusselsis home to the European decision-making centers. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

6. Reason 1: Centrally located at the heart of Europe Flanders is…: at the heart of Europeanpurchasing power home to the NATO and EU HQ and others home to the EDC’s of 3M, Exxon, Bridgestone, Daikin, JVC Logistics, Sony Service Center and many more… 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

7. Outstandingtransport infrastructure 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

8. Reason 2: Outstanding transport infrastructure Flanders has…: the most modern maritime & inlandports highlyefficientairportsfor the global transport of bothgoods and passengers excellent road, railroad and inlandwaterwayconnections the highestdensity of EDCs in Europe… It is, in short, a paradiseforanylogisticsoperation. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

9. Reason 2: Outstanding transport infrastructure 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

10. Globallyrecognizedhumancapital 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

11. Reason 3: Globallyrecognizedhumancapital Flanders enjoys…: a highlyproductive, flexible, eager-to-learn and multilingualworkforce a superbeducation system. The human factor can be decisive in yourinvestmentdecision. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

12. Reason 3: Globallyrecognizedhumancapital PISA assessment score 2008 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

13. Reason 3: Globallyrecognizedhumancapital PISA assessment score 2008 The Conference Board 2009 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

14. Diverse offering of tax benefits and fiscal incentives 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

15. Reason 4: Taxbenefits and fiscalincentives Flanders offers…: anidealfiscalclimate a wide range of taxbenefits and financialgrants Just take a look at the followinginterestingmeasures… 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

16. Reason 4: Taxbenefits and fiscalincentives Seveninterestingtaxmeasures and benefits: Notional interest deduction Tax rulings Patent deduction Domestic dividend withholdingtaxexemption VAT grouping Ecological support Organizationforfinancing pensions 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

17. Sustainablegrowthfor major industries 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

18. Reason 5: Sustainable growth Flanders… is a big player in a number of major industries houses numerous world-leading multinationals and SME’s has achieved a sustainable growth in these industries has acquired an excellent worldwide reputation 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location Port of Zeebrugge

19. Reason 5: Sustainable growth Flanders’ sevenprincipal industries: 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

20. State-of-the-artresearch centers 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

21. Reason 6: State-of-the-art research centers Flanders has… animpressive track recordwhenit comes to discovery research and innovation fourStrategic Research Centers thatcollaboratewith the academic and business worlds frequently been the birthplace of cutting-edgetechnologies 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

22. Reason 6: State-of-the-art research centers Flanders’ 4 Strategic Research Centers: IMEC VIB IBBT VITO 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location Flanders InstituteforBiotechnology, Ghent

23. High density of knowledge clusters 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

24. Reason 7: High density of knowledge clusters Flanders is a hotbed for the development of variousknowledge clusters. These clusters cangiveyou a crucialhead-startin the different industries. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location Boekentoren (Tower of Books) , Ghent

25. Reason 7: High density of knowledge clusters Some examples: Flanders’ DRIVE Flanders’ Mechatronics Technology Center Telematics cluster The Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication Flanders’ Food Flanders Institute for Logistics Digital Signal Processing Valley Flanders Multimedia Valley … 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

26. Excellent results in international surveys 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

27. Reason 8: Excellent results in international surveys Flanders is… the ultimatelocation in Europeforyour business activities a regionwith a richvariety in opportunitiesforcompanieslookingforsustainablegrowth the right spot! We don’tjustsaysoourselves… 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

28. Reason 8: Excellent results in international surveys fDi: “Flanders has the best strategyforattractinginvestors” EuropeanRegions and Cities of the future 2010 - 2011 Cushman & Wakefield: “Belgium is the N°1 logistics country in Europe” European Distribution Report 2008 “Brussels is a cheap and attractiveEuropean business city” The EuropeanCities Monitor 2008 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

29. Reason 8: Excellent results in international surveys King Sturge: “Flanders has among the lowestrentsfor prime logisticsspace” Europeanindustrialpropertymarkets 2009 Ernst & Young: “Flanders is an excellent locationforheadquarters and logisticsoperations” European Investment Monitor 2009 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

30. Reason 8: Excellent results in international surveys Belgium-JapanAssociation: “Belgium is a leading destination in Europe for inward investment. If you decide to set up a headquarters, a distribution hub or a research and development centre in Europe, Belgium may be one of the best possible locations on your short list.” Belgium and itsneighbours’ business climatecompared 2010 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location Port of Zeebrugge

31. High quality of lifeforexpat employees 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

32. Reason 9: High quality of life In Flanders… expatriate employees enjoya high standard of living the social fiber is strong and people are open minded people live life to the fullest the excellent medicalhealth care and education system ensure a worry-freestayforyourexpatriate employees and their families 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location Beach of Zeebrugge

33. Professional support in setting up youroperations 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

34. Reason 10: Professional support in setting up Flanders Investment & Trade provides expert advice and guidance to foreigncompanieswanting to start orexpandoperations in Flanders. Thanks to ourexperienced, multilingualstaff we are ableto assistyouwithyourintegrationintoone of Europe’s most prosperouseconomies, bothefficiently and effectively. …free of charge 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

35. Reason 10: Professional support in setting up Flanders Investment & Trade has more than 90 regional offices worldwide to assistyou, whereveryou are. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

36. Reason 10: Professional support in setting up We are committed to providing better answers... Whether your company is considering its first steps into Europe, an expansion or a joint venture in Flanders, we can provide valuable assistance. 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

37. Reason 10: Professional support in setting up Flanders Investment & Trade provides potential direct investors with information on: Site selection Overview of all benefits, grants and incentives Introduction to decision-makers Legal aspects of setting up locally Identify business opportunities Integration into local community life 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location

38. Visit our website for more informationwww.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com 10 good reasons to invest in Flanders – An introduction to Europe’s ultimate business location