■ Foreword

Belgium continues to be a magnet for many foreign companies desiring to establish a presence in Europe. Belgium has a long tradition of attracting foreign investment. Hundreds of European, American and Japanese companies are located in Belgium, as well as almost 20 Korean.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide some initial answers to questions most frequently asked by foreign companies about establishing a business in Belgium, such as: choice of business entities, taxes, travel, work and residence permits, labor, employment and real estate issues. Due to space considerations, relevant information is passed on in summary form. More comprehensive guides to investing in Belgium and its Regions and detailed guides on the tax regime for distribution center, coordination centers and service centers can be obtained from representatives listed in this booklet.

Finally, it should be emphasized that companies about to establish a presence in Belgium should not go at it alone. The various federal and regional authorities of Belgium are there to assist such companies. For this reason, ultimately the most important part of this booklet is perhaps the listing of the network of representatives in Korea, Singapore and Japan who will gladly help Korean company with an interest in Belgium.