CHINA WELCOME OFFICE - Invest in wallonia

CHINA WELCOME OFFICE
Chinese High Tech Incubator inside Science Parks of Wallonia Network
You are at home in the true heart of Europe…
CHINA WELCOME OFFICE
NETHERLANDS
TURNHOUT
In Wallonia-Brussels, Europe in your hands…
ANVERS
BRUGGE
OOSTENDE
MECHELEN
GENT
IEPER
LEUVEN
KORTRIJK
BRUXELLES
GENK
HASSELT
FRANCE
TOURNAI
MONS
CHARLEROI
NAMUR
Autoroutes
LIEGE
ARLON
LUXEMBURG
GERMANY
Parc Scientifique Initialis
Rue René Descartes, 2 - B- 7000 Mons
Tel: +32 (0) 65 321 558
E-mail : chinawelcomeoffice@investinwallonia.be
www.investinwallonia.be
E19
E42
A7
BRUXELLES
CHARLEROI
LIEGE
IMAGIX
Contacts:
In China:
Mrs. Jacqueline ZOU Xiaoping
Investments Representative - China
AWEX - Foreign Trade and Investment Agency
Consulate General of Belgium in Shanghai
Tel: (8621) 64379489; 64339058
Fax: (8621) 64377083
127 Wu Yi Lu, Shanghai 200050
jzou@investinwallonia.cn
In Belgium:
Mr. Michel KEMPENEERS
Business Development Manager Asia-Pacific
AWEX - Foreign Trade and Investment Agency
Namur Office Park
6, Avenue des Dessus de Lives
B-5101 NAMUR (Loyers)
Tel. Office: +32-81/332850
m.kempeneers@awex.be
TOURNAI
LILLE
PARIS
INITIALIS
LES
GRANDS
PRES
CENTRE
COMMERCIAL
MONS
EXPO
MONS
CENTRE
Wallonia-Belgium, your business partner in the heart of Europe

The Heart of Europe
Wallonia-Brussels, economic and cultural
crossroad in the true heart of Europe
WALLONIA-BRUSSELS is the french-speaking part of
BELGIUM, including Brussels, Capital of Europe, in the
immediate vicinity of Western Europe’s major cities.
The area is home to the main offices of the largest
international institutions and the headquarters of many
multinationals.
In the heart of the most important distribution area in
Northern Europe and at a few hours reach of Paris,
Strasbourg, London, Amsterdam, The Hague, Luxembourg,
Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and Geneva, Wallonia-Brussels
is directly linked to all decision making centres in Europe.
Wallonia provides a direct link to the sea ports of
Antwerp and Rotterdam. Its exceptional geographical position,
transport and communication network with stateof-the-art
multimodal facilities afford Wallonia the potential
to increase your profits. A qualified and multilingual
workforce, which appreciate work and effort, and its readily
available industrial and logistics fields permit very low
investment and operating costs. Symbols of innovation and
competitiveness, the Universities and Research Centres
of the region give it a permanent added value in logistics
supply chains.
With entertainment zones, gastronomy, tourism and the
high quality of life found in the historical centre of Europe,
Wallonia offers you the best place to distribute products
inside the European market.
Infrastructures
• Belgium ranks at the 1 st place for logistic investments & distribution in Europe (2008 Cushman & Wakefield’s survey)
• The densest road network in the world (lighting, safety, toll-free)
• 375 million consumers within 8 hours drive (65 % of the European Market)
• 2 international and cargo airports (accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, European hub of worldwide express
integrator TNT)
• Host of the EURO-CAREX platform (Cargo High Speed Train in Northern Europe)
• More than 4000 acres available now in Industrial and Research Parks (Land and storage from 30 to 60 euros/sqm)
Competitiveness Clusters and Corporate Networks
5 competitiveness clusters (Aeronautics and Space, Agro-industry, Life Sciences, Transport and Logistics, Mechanical Engineering) take part in
the new growth dynamics initiated by the Government and position Wallonia-Brussels at the heart of the knowledge communities, with the support of
Universities, Research and Training centres. A new focus is operated on Green Technology and eco-development.
Serving innovation
Wallonia-Brussels, with its nine university centres housing 300 research facilities and 11,000 researchers, is world
renowned for being innovative and research driven. This region has been the recipient of three Nobel Prizes. Original,
creative, technology intensive and good value for money, Wallonia’s expertly designed and manufactured products are
competitive on all points with the world’s best and its productivity is amongst the highest in the world.
The information and communication technology market is growing by 10% a year and is supported by 2,500 graduates.
Qualified workforce
Wallonia-Brussels has developed an extended, highly performing educational network of college, universities and graduate schools. The training meets
market requirements since the large majority of graduates from high schools or universities get a job as soon as they finish their studies. Businesses benefit
from a quality workforce: productivity is 20% higher than the European average…
THE HEART OF EUROPE
WALLONIA-BRUSSELS OFFERS TO CHINESE COMPANIES
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AGENCIES
Wallonia-Belgium, your business partner in the heart of Europe

Wallonia-Brussels offers to chinese companies…
Wallonia foreign Trade and Investment (AWEX) facilitates collaboration
between the Science Parks of Wallonia (SPOW) and
Chinese technological firms. Numerous agreements have been
negotiated between private partners and public bodies in networks
all over China.
As part of the CROSS INCUBATION projects in China and Europe,
AWEX offers Chinese companies to test and launch on the
European market in a new CHINA WELCOME OFFICE based in
Mons (in Wallonia), between Paris and Brussels, specially dedicated
to innovative Chinese companies wishing to expand in
Europe.
Brand new offices and many personalised services are available
FREE (excluding telecommunications costs) to Chinese companies
who can devote themselves exclusively, at very low cost, to
the growth of their business daily – and all this from a base in
Belgium, affording maximum ease of travel to all major European
cities.
Personalised service (free of charge)
• The permanent presence of a tri-lingual expert (english-french-chinese)
• Assistance in understanding the language and culture
• Advice with practical and logistical matter (visas, travel permits, accreditation, legal issues, everyday worries…)
• Administrative assistance with initial prospection in the European market (e.g. market studies)
• Networking with leading European professionals in your industry
• Commercial use of Wallonia in Europe (more than 50 offices in the capitals and major European cities)
Services of all types
Wallonia foreign Trade and Investment Agency (Awex) proposes in partnership with the Science Parks of Wallonia (SPOW):
• A specialised office for Chinese companies to launch their activities in Europe (based in Mons): THE CHINA WELCOME OFFICE
• Ultra-modern telecom services (Internet access, optic fibers, ADSL/SDSL, videoconference…)
• Hi-tech business centres equipped to welcome companies and accelerate growth
• Specialised sector-specific offices (Aerospace, Lifesciences, Agro-food, Mechanical Engineering...) for the support of start-ups
• Training and economic support to create your own distribution business in the heart of Europe
Connections throughout Europe
But also:
• A dissemination of information with a technological advantage to companies operating in science parks
• The promotion of technology transfer between research and industry, with many European partners
• Lively technological activity between companies (networking with innovative businesses at European level, creating
opportunities for technological exchanges between players from industry and/or research)
• Access to EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROGRAMS through experts directly connected to the relevant departments
of the European Commission in Brussels
WALLONIA-BRUSSELS OFFERS TO CHINESE COMPANIES
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AGENCIES
Wallonia-Belgium, your business partner in the heart of Europe

Support from Belgian Public Agencies
Wallonia foreign Trade & Investment Agency (AWEX) is the
one-stop shop for all prospective foreign investors wanting
to locate in Wallonia. Our commitment is to help foreign companies
begin their activities successfully and integrate them into
European Economic Networks.
We offer foreign companies links with local authorities, universities
and technological partners thanks to special relationships
with local real estate agencies and the Science Parks of Wallonia.
Apart from this initial «kick start», we also organise meetings
with experts from various federal and regional departments and
guide you through the relevant administrative steps.
As a foreign trade agency, AWEX carries out a mission of promotion
and export support for the benefit of both Wallonia and
the foreign business community.
Our team of specialised multilingual advisors will assist you personally
from the feasibility study through to the realisation of
your investment and export strategy. Our experts will be pleased
to help at every stage of your activities.
Investment support
OUR MISSION is to provide invaluable advice and guide you through the following steps in particular:
• Search for locations and buildings
• Assistance to incorporate your company (access to risk capital, legal and logistics support)
• Advice and assistance in the search for suitable human resources (including initiation and training programs)
• Assistance to obtain grants provided by regional and European authorities. Depending on location, the
combined subsidy from both regional and EU sources can amount to as much as 50% of the investment
• Tax support as Effective tax rate - Expatriate regime (unique in Europe) - Fiscal ruling (prior agreement with
the Fiscal Administration) - Holding company Fiscal regime - Fiscal immunization regime - Real-estate tax
exemption and Notional interest deduction tool (unique in Europe)
Technological support
• Business plans: study of the viability of the business plan on a technical, commercial and financial basis
• Research funding: preparing for the fundraiser
• Access to public incentives: analysis and personalised action of available public support
• Advice for Patent income deduction, deduction for investments in R&D centers and patents (direct grant up to 70%
of intervention for a SME if innovative quality of the project and expected results generated within the region)
Export support
Foreign companies choosing Wallonia as European hub to spread their products inside European markets could
benefit export-oriented services as:
• General and commercial information on European and foreign markets (AWEX has more than 50 offices in Europe)
• European market studies tailored to specific areas upon request
• Organization and planning of marketing activities (international trade shows, economic missions, sector-based contact days…)
• Establishing contacts with business federations and international organizations
• Financial support and export financing
• Training in international careers and free traineeships
SUPPORT FROM BELGIAN PUBLIC AGENCIES
Wallonia-Belgium, your business partner in the heart of Europe