Trade Shows » Country » Belgium » Brussels

Business Overview
Brussels, which is now one of the most expensive continental location, is fast becoming a continental capital and commercial hub. Though the city accounts for just 0.5% of Belgium's surface area, it still generates around one-fourth of the nation's Gross National Product.

Being the capital city of the nation, Brussels is home to most of the major Belgian companies including the Glaverbel, Solvay and SN Brussels Airlines. Pertaining to its geographic location at the heart of Europe, excellent transport infrastructure, highly trained multi-lingual workforce along with favorable fiscal regimes, the city provide home to nearly 2,000 foreign companies including 1,400 American companies and over 1,000 international associations. Some of the foreign companies with a presence in the city are AT&T, IBM, Sony, Toyota and Hewlett Packard.

Further, the presence of some 60 foreign banks has contributed in making Brussels the seventh biggest financial market in the world. Countries like America, France, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan have strong financial links with the city.

Brussels is also the second most important industrial center of the nation after Antwerp. The Industries in the city are increasingly specialized in high-tech sectors. However, the tertiary sectors like banking & financial services, tourism and transport accounts for nearly 80% of all jobs in the capital.

Brussels is the paradise of congresses as it welcomes nearly 16,000 business congresses annually. It has a long history of hosting some renowned conventions and conferences like 5th Solvay Conference in 1927 and 3rd International Modern Architecture Congress in 1930. Many world fairs and expositions also take place in the city of which some the most famous held till now are the Exposition Universelle et Internationale (1935) and the World Expo '58 in 1958. It is one of the most important cities of Belgium organizing trade shows and expos at its famous venue Brussels Exhibition Center.

Major Business Centers
Brussels Exhibition Center:
Situated in the Parc des Expositions, Brussels Expo was built for the World Exhibition of 1958. Brussels Exhibition Center with unlimited possibilities, great service and cheapest rental rates in Europe, is a major crossroads for the world of business and the business of the world.

A successful blend of 21st century innovation with world famous architecture, the center has 12 impressive halls, five of them dating from the Universal Exhibition in 1935 and others built for the 1958 World’s Fair, offering state-of-the-art technology throughout along with an Auditorium 2000, accommodating up to 2,000 people. Whether it's a major public fair, an annual general meeting or a launch of a sophisticated new product, the Expo center can take care of all.

Brussels Stock Exchange (BSE):
Brussels Stock Exchange was founded in Brussels by Napoleonic decree in 1801. However, it was merged with Paris Bourse, the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, to form Euronext N.V. in 2000.

The Euronext is the first pan-European exchange for equities and derivatives, with common trading and clearing of all products.

The most well known index on the Brussels Stock Exchange is the BEL20.

Major Commercial Areas
The City Center:
The center of the city is an important commercial hub where the Belgian financial groups such as the FORTIS and BBL along with government ministries are based.

Espace Nord:
Brussels' biggest and newest business district, Espace Nord is running from Rogier Square to the North Train Station area. The district is much favoured by public administrators and private-sector companies, such as Belgacom, Bankcard Company and The World Trade Center.

The place also owns much of Belgian government institutions and major banks' headquarters along with French, Australian and US embassies.