Acknowledgements and DisclaimerBelgium in Focus is a special publication of the Embassy of Belgium in India. The views expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors -whom we hereby wish to thank for their participation- and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Belgium or the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The magazine was produced with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, and is not for sale. It should be used for private circulation only.

Ambassador’s Desk 4

Belgium- the gateway to Europe 5

Belgium and India: A history of close ties 7

Interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Karel De Gucht 11

Business Interview with Chairman (BICC&I), Mr. Philippe Vlerick and President (FEB), Mr. Thomas Leysen 14

Insight into Belgium as leading investment destination 16

Belgium and India to work together on port development projects 18

Interview with CEO, Rosy Blue, Mr. Dilip Mehta 20

Belgium and India, two complementary and growing biopharma clusters 22

Janssen Pharmaceutica to help facelift Indian heritage 24

Belgium- A quality education destination for Indian students 27

Leuven- A hub for Indian students in Belgium 28

Jazz legends of Belgium 29

Belgium’s popular museum of musical instruments 30

A peek into largest museum of photography in Europe 31

Come and visit Belgium 32

Belgian beer, a rich legacy 34

Useful business contact information 35

Contents

Cover Pic:Atomium, a monument built for Expo ‘58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it is 102-metres (335 ft) tall, with nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Photo courtesy - fatboyke

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Ambassador’s Desk

Dear Reader,

It’s a great pleasure to launch this new magazine on Belgium and on the steadily enlarging and intensifying relations between Belgium and India.

We witness daily contacts and interests of Indian students and tourists, business people and artists, scientists and decision makers. Many of them are pleasantly surprised discovering a small and highly diversified country in the heart of Europe. This magazine will show them some aspects of Belgium they are familiar with but also some lesser known facets.

The open mindedness of the Indian people fuels their eagerness to know more about the outside world. They will find in this magazine a wide range of topics offering them a first taste of what Belgium is like. I am convinced that this will wet their appetite for more.

Especially in today’s difficult economic and social environment, it is necessary not to react in an inward looking way but to broaden the horizons and to work together in finding answers to our common challenges. This magazine intends to offer some practical ideas on new ways of co-operation.

The importance, weight and relevance of India, in all aspects of life and development of the global society are recognised by all. Obviously, India is on a path to even increase its present stature. It is a privilege for Belgium to work closely together with this new Power.

While not aiming at offering a complete picture, this magazine will show some of the most promising fields of co-operation. I sincerely hope this will encourage you, dear reader, to get into contact with the representatives of Belgium in India.

We are here to co-operate with you.

Thank you very much for your interest and for your valuable time.

H.E. Mr. Jean M. DeboutteAmbassador of Belgium to India

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� Belgium in Focus

Royal Palace of Belgium

Belgium, the Gateway to EuropeBelgium is a small, highly developed and densely populated

country at the cross-roads of Europe

Belgium is one of the founding members o f the European Community, and its capital, Brussels, also plays host to the major i ty o f European institutions, NATO and many other international organizations and lobbies of all kinds.

Belgium has, since the Middle Ages, always been one of the richest and most developed regions in the world. Just look at the historic churches, town halls, and pieces of art, in cities such as Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Liege and Antwerp to get an idea of the wealth during the mediaeval and Renaissance periods. During the half century before World War I, Belgium was the fourth economic power in the world. If you take into account that the other industrial powers had a 5 to 10 times larger population, the achievement is impressive. This wealth was due to industrial production

and trade, which is facilitated by Belgium’s central position in Western Europe, and the presence of many land and waterways. Nowadays, Belgium may be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but its economic impact greatly exceeds its size. For instance the country is one of the leading countries in exports per capita in the world.

Quality of Life

What all Belgians have in common is a love for the “good life”, which they find in their excellent food and drink, comfortable housing, reliable medical and social services, and highly developed communications infrastructure. Belgians tend to be happy, warm and friendly once you get to know

them better. They put a high value on privacy and have a clear aversion towards m o r a l i z i n g , t o w a r d s telling other people how they should or should not behave, and they take “live and let live” as the basis for their philosophy.

Most Productive Workers

Belgian workers are the most productive in the world. This productivity is due to a generally high level of education resulting in highly skilled labour,

extended automatisation, shift work that minimizes idle time, and low absenteeism. Although employees have relatively much vacation and free time, and can easily take time off for illness without risking to lose their jobs, few working days are actually lost. This is also due to the excellent system of low cost medicine and the tradition of solving industrial conflicts by negotiations.

Thanks to the open market, the good distribution channels and the strong consumer requirements, one can find the most diverse and high quality goods in the shops at relatively low prices. The high production and consumption standards have led to the publicity slogan ‘’This is Belgian” being used as a quality label, especially in the domains

The country is one of the leading countries in exports per capita in the world

Belgium |

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Geographically, Belgium is centrally located in Europe. Belgium has traditionally been an especially open country and was one of the original driving forces behind European unification. As the headquarters of the European Commission, the Council and many institutions linked to the EU, Brussels is most certainly entitled to call itself the capital of Europe.

Belgium is situated at the heart of Europe. This is a basic observation but the importance of its central geographical location between the most important countries in Western Europe needs to be highlighted. At the risk of seeming paradoxical, Belgium was in a way already playing a `European’ role even before it became “Belgian”. Just look at the past roles of Bruges and Antwerp in international trade, Leuven’s role as a university town and the part Liège played during the industrial revolution.

This tradition of openness continues today. Belgium is still a hub for international contacts. More than 1,000 public and private international organisations have set up headquarters or have a permanent secretariat in Belgium.

Belgium in an international context

Belgium, whose prosperity is largely dependent on external trade, has always played an active part in various forms of international cooperation.

Since the creation of the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) in 1921, Belgium has been involved in every initiative to set up international cooperation projects. As a Benelux member, Belgium was one of the precursors of European unification. The three Benelux countries had decided back in 1944 that trade between their countries should be free from import duties and that a common

customs tariff should be applied to trade with third countries. This customs union, which came into force on 1 January 1948, promoted trade between the three Benelux countries.

In 1951, the Benelux countries together with France, the Federal Republic of Germany and Italy created the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In 1957, the ‘Six’ set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). In 1965, these three organisations joined together to form the European Communities. Following a number of enlargements, Belgium is no longer one of six member states but rather one of 27 members of the European Union.

Source : Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium

Heart of Europe

of food, drink and housing. More unexpectedly, Belgians, such as the “Antwerp Six” group, have made inroads in top ten fashion design, a domain which was almost exclusively under the control of French, Italian and Japanese designers.

Open to the World

A crossroads of several cultures, Belgium has the advantage of a central location within Europe and a extraordinarily well-developed infrastructure. The communications network is offering rapid and efficient transports by air, sea, road and rail.

The facilities available in and around Brussels, have already convinced a large number of multinational companies to base their European headquarters here, alongside the many European institutions. Hotels, international and national banks, efficient telecommunication services, conference facilities, trade fairs, ... all are in plentiful supply and tuned to the demanding and rapidly evolving needs of local and international business.

Belgium’s open trading policies and efficient communications

have helped make the Belgian market one of the toughest and most competitive in the world. To prosper in this demanding environment requires a high level of resourcefulness, creativity and craftsmanship for which Belgian companies have become known the world over.

Belgium is a land of hospitality, fully open to the world. We warmly welcome you.

Source: Made in Belgium

The Berlaymont is a symbol of the European presence in Brussels

| Belgium

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� Belgium in Focus

Belgium and India: A History of Close Ties

Diplomatic relations between The Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of India were established more than 60 years ago and have remained friendly ever since. But the relations between our two nations go an even longer way back: the history of our relationship starts in Bengal, in 1723, with the mooring of the first ship of the Ostend Company at Banquibazar. The Belgians received the concession of Banquibazar as well as a settlement at Cassimbazar from the Nawab of Murshidabad and many other ships of the Company followed from 1725 to 1730.

A History in Cultural Exchanges

A few decades later, the arrival of Antwerp-native artist Balthazar Solvyns in Calcutta marked the first of a series of cultural high points in the history of Indo-Belgian relations. One can find Solvyn’s paintings in high places, such as the Indian Prime Minister’s Residence.

At the end of the 1770s, Belgium also became known in India for its quality glass, iron and steel products. The so-called Belgian trunk was very popular: it bore the trademark ‘Belgium’, which became a synonym of quality. From their travels in Europe, Maharajahs, merchants and

settlers would also bring back huge and sumptuous Belgian cut-glass or crystal chandeliers and mirrors. These pieces can still be admired alongside works of the great Flemish masters in such places as the palaces of Gwalior and Mysore for instance, the Marble Palace in Calcutta or museums across the country. Lace from Bruges or Brussels came to India through Sister Marie Louise de Meester, who taught the art of lace and embroidery to the orphans of Mulagumoodu in Tamil Nadu. Today, the orphanages continue to produce goods for sale back in Belgium!

This cultural relationship might be anchored in a past common history but it also focuses on current and future collaborations like such initiatives as the BOZAR/India Festival, held in Brussels in 2006, one of the largest Indian cultural events ever organised abroad, and inaugurated by the honourable Sonia Gandhi in person.

Ties between Belgium and India in the field of Education

Aside from culture, India and Belgium have also enjoyed historically close ties in the field of education. The well-known St Xavier’s College has been run by Belgian Jesuits for some 140 years

A detailed look at more than 60 years of diplomatic ties between Belgium and India

The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil and the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh welcoming Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen

Paola at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on November 04, 2008

Belgium – India |

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King Albert II and Queen Paola paying their respects to Mahatma Gandhi and his legacy at Raj Ghat on November 4, 2008

now. ‘St Xavier’s’ is recognised all over India for its high standards of learning and the many VIPs and VVIPs among its alumni.

Today, Belgium and India nourish these close ties in the field of education through Agreements related to scholarship programs as well as exchange programs between our universities. Every year Belgium is happy to welcome constantly increasing numbers of Indian students: in 2007-08 there were more than 420 Indian students registered in our top universities, making Belgium one of continental Europe’s most attractive countries for Indian students.

A Constantly Growing Trade and Economic Relationship

Belgium and Indian companies have also enjoyed a long history together out of which fruitful collaborations have sprung in various fields going from diamond trading & cutting to infrastructure, energy, ports, machinery, banking & finance, chemicals & fertilizers, nanotechnology, aerospace and of course chocolate!

Countless joint-venture proposals between Belgian and Indian companies have been approved (more than 200 between 1991 and 2004) and bilateral flows between the two countries stand very high.

With more than €8.6 billion in trade in 2007, Belgium, together with the UK and Germany, is one of India’s most important trading partners in the EU (who is, in turn, India’s first trading partner with more than €55 billion in trade in 2007).

Belgium is also a prime destination for Indian investors. Companies like Suzlon, Crompton Greaves, the Thapar group, Raymond, Ranbaxy, Matrix Labs, and others have invested more than 1 billion € in Belgium in 2006. In addition, Indian carrier Jet Airways has

selected Brussels as its main hub for Europe and will connect most Indian cities directly to Brussels in the coming years.

Belgium is, in its turn, the 13th largest investor in India worldwide (the 8th from the EU): our country’s cumulative investments (FDI) in India between 1991 and 2007 represent close to €160 million.

Belgium’s Commitment to the Belgo-Indian Relationship

In a foreign policy note published in 2006, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared it was eager to commit itself even more to its relationship with India, recognizing the growing role the country is playing on both the political and economic level in Asia and in the world. The new policy was put to application the same year during Prime Minister Verhofstadt and Minister of Foreign Affairs De Gucht’s visit to India in November. During this visit a Bilateral Agreement on Science and Technology as well as a ground-breaking Agreement on Social Security were signed. They were added to the series of Agreements already existing between both countries on such issues as the avoidance of double taxation and the protection and promotion of investments.

King Albert II in a meeting with Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi in November 2008

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� Belgium in Focus

The November 2008 State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians to India

H.M. King Albert II and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht’s official State Visit to India in November 2008 also showed how dedicated Belgium is to fostering its relationship with India. The carefully planned visit took our King across the subcontinent to visit officials, academics and businessmen in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad but also to Chennai, a city that enjoys close ties with Belgium.

The State Visit addressed most of the sectors covered by the rich bilateral ties between both countries.

Official Contacts

The Official visit started on November 4th when the Belgian Sovereigns, accompanied by Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade H.E. Mr. Karel De Gucht and his wife, were welcomed at Rashtrapati Bhawan by H.E. President Pratibha Patil and H.E. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The King and Queen of the Belgians as well as the Minister then went on to Raj Ghat to pay their respects. Later that day, His Majesty King Albert II, alongside Minister De Gucht, met with Shri Pranab Mukherjee before leaving to Hyderabad House for a closed doors meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In the afternoon, the Sovereigns received a call by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.

The day was concluded by a formal State Dinner hosted by H.E. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In all the cities visited by the Royal delegation, official contacts were made with the state authorities as well and the Sovereigns had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of the Governors of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu as well as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Belgium – India |

Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola at the residence of Honorary Consul of Belgium in Chennai, Dr. A.C. Muthiah

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An Impressive Agenda of Business Deliverables

The State Visit also had an impressive business agenda, proportionate to the size of the Belgian business delegation that was accompanying Their Majesties: no less than 40 of the most important CEO’s of the country had been invited to joint the Royal Visit! The business agenda included some high-level business lunches in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

The Business Lunch in Delhi was organised by CII and the Belgian Federation of Enterprises and witnessed the signing of five agreements between Belgian and Indian companies in various sectors: IBA and VECC (cyclotron), Janssen Pharmaceutica and the ASI (treatment and restoration of heritage monuments), Tractebel Engineering and GAIL India Limited (supply of pipeline infrastructures), a Belgian consortium and Indian Gas Limited (for the construction of Manappad Port) and an MoU between the Free University of Brussels and IIM Ahmedabad.

In Mumbai, H.M. the King hosted a restricted Power Lunch at the Taj Mahal Palace, in presence of among others H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs, V.K. Kamath (Managing Director & CEO of ICICI Bank), Naresh Goyal (Chairman Jet Airways), M.V. Nair (Chairman and Managing Director Union Bank of India), André Bergen (CEO KBC Group), Dr. Ajit Shetty (Chairman Board of Directors Janssen Pharmaceutica) and Dilip Mehta (CEO Rosy Blue). The Taj was also the scene of the signature of various Agreements between Belgian and Indian companies in the fields of Banking (Agreement between KBC Asset Management

Indian Community in Belgium

There are about 7,000 persons of Indian origin in Belgium. Indian Communities are mainly in Antwerp and Brussels. There are about 250 families engaged in diamond trade in Antwerp. Many of the other Indians l iving in Belgium are professionals employed with ei ther mult inat ional companies or other professional organisations. There are seven Indian associations. The leading ones are Bhartiya Samaj and the Antwerp Indian Association.

Belgium in Focus 10

and Union Bank of India for an asset management joint venture company) and Logistics (Contract between the Belgian industrial group Cockerill Maintenance and Ingenierie and Tata Steel for the delivery of a Cold Rolling Mill).

In Chennai, South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Belgian Federation of Enterprises organised a joint Seminar on Port development with the participation of the Zeebrugge and Antwerp Port Authorities.

Confirming the Important Academic ties between Belgium and India

Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola were also accompanied by a large academic delegation comprised of the Rectors (equivalent of the Indian Vice-Chancellors) of the major Belgian universities. In this field as well, the State Visit was the ideal opportunity to put on paper the basis for future collaborations between, amongst others, the Free University of Brussels and Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Catholic University of Louvain and the Chennai Mathematical Institute as well as IIT Bombay, the Ghent University and universities from Karnataka (in view of the building of

the Karnataka Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities), the University of Madras and the Flemish interuniversity Council, the Catholic University of Leuven and the Society for Electronics and Security, and the Indian and Belgian Nuclear Societies.

Encouraging of Common work on Social Issues

During the Royal Visit, Her Majesty the Queen visited numerous Indian organisations that work in the social field in the various cities that were on the agenda.

In Delhi, she visited Cansupport, an Indian organisation that provides information, hope and expert palliative care at no cost to the homes of cancer patients and their families living in Delhi and the NCR, and the Women and Children Welfare Centre that works with victims of exploitation and violence.

In Mumbai Her Majesty visited the National Domestic Workers Movement that is active in 23 Indian States and works towards achieving dignity for domestic work

and workers at a national level. Both the Sovereigns attended the signing ceremony of a series of Declarations of Intent between the Brothers of Charity and Help Handicapped International as well as the Tata institute of Social Sciences on the topic of mental health.

In Chennai, Queen Paola visited the Little Flower Convent for Deaf & Dumb, a school recognised for its outstanding work by the Government in Tamil Nadu since 1931. She also made the trip to the Holy Family Hansenorium in Fathimanagar (Tiruchirapalli) that provides quality leprosy services to needy patients thanks to financial support from the Damian Foundation. In India, the leprosy case load came down from 160 for every 10000 population in 1986 to less than 1 case for every 10000 population in 1997. While the field programme was taken over by the Government, the institution was recognized as a tertiary referral centre for managing leprosy patients with complications.

(Re)discovering India

More than a simple political or business visit, the State Visit of the Belgian Sovereigns to India was also all about discovering India in its immensely diversified cultural and philosophical presence and heritage. The King and Queen took it upon them to visit sites representing the most prominent faiths of the subcontinent: from the Birla Mandir and the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi to the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore, without forgetting the Jain Temple on Ridge Road in Mumbai and the Santhome Basilica in Chennai. It was surely a most enlightening experience.

During this visit Their Majesties and the members of the delegation have (re)discovered that, in spite of many paradoxes, India is most certainly defining itself as an emerging political and economic giant. Those who were privileged enough to accompany the State Visit of our Sovereigns were on the front row to witness how deep Belgian’s bilateral ties with India run and how this crucial relationship is cherished by both sides.

| Belgium – India

H.M. King Albert II planting a tree at the Infosys Campus in Hyderabad on November 8, 2008

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11 Belgium in Focus

Minister De Gucht |

Mr. Minister, the November 2008 State visit to India by King Albert II and Queen Paola took place after a long gap of 38 years. What tangible gains have been achieved by Belgium from the current visit?

There’s quite a lot of them. We have signed eight business deals and no less than 17 academic

“Royal Visit Signalled a Qualitative Leap in Indo-Belgian Partnership”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mr. Karel De Gucht shares his views on recent bilateral developments between Belgium and India in an

interview with Harun Riaz and Shilpy Arora

memoranda, involving contracts in the energy industry, cooperation in developing ports, technological cooperation, a joint venture in the banking sector, educational projects... Too much to mention.

But a State Visit is about more than just the immediate, tangible gains. In general, relations between India and Belgium have been much strengthened by the contacts our business people have

had, by the networking that took place between our academics and by the political discussions we’ve had.

For me as minister of Foreign Affairs, exchanging views with Indian officials on cooperation in the Congo, for instance, or on trade negotiations in the WTO are very important. And in that respect also, this was a very satisfying visit.

“The energy, the potential and the

culture of India are enough to charm

anybody”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mr. Karel De Gucht

Can you share the thoughts of Their Majesties about India, its people and were they received well?

The energy, the potential and the culture of India are enough to charm anybody. I have visited the country before, both as a minister and as a tourist, and every time I’m struck by the friendliness and the vibrancy of it.

For us, this was the biggest and the longest State Visit ever, with over 150 people travelling in different delegations - academics, officials, businessmen etc – and the way everything was organised, the warmth and the efficiency of our reception, was splendid. Just perfect.

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Prince Philippe has visited India thrice in the last decade. How different is the visit by King Albert II in comparison?

These visits have a very different scope. When HRH Pr ince Philippe visits India, he leads an economic mission of Belgian businessmen who want to explore business opportunities in India, and he helps them in doing so by facilitating high level contacts.

The visit of HM King Albert II was a State visit. It was an all encompassing event, whereby all the aspects of the relations between India and Belgium have been tackled: diplomatic, political,

cultural , social , economic, academic, etc…

The purpose here was not to focus specifically on a limited number of sectors, but to maximize the general benefits of this State visit for both the countries. This State visit signalled also a qualitative leap towards a global partnership between Belgium and India. So many contacts have been initialled in several fields and we expect a permanently increased cooperation to result from the visit.

Despite an old, close and vibrant Belgium-India relationship, no President of India has ever visited Belgium. Why?

We very much look forward to welcoming the President of India for a visit to our country. And the President of India can be assured of our best hospitality, as a tribute to the warmth of our smooth relations and as a signal of our eagerness to further develop our cooperation.

In India, Brussels is known as European capital, rather than Belg ian capi ta l . How much this factor overshadows Belgian-India business growth and tourism potential?

Belgians are enthusiastic Europeans and there is no way we would be jealous of Europe or irritated because a portion of the visitors visit Brussels first as the capital of Europe.

On the contrary, we are proud to share Brussels with the European

| Minister De Gucht

“It will not take another 38 years for the next Belgian State Visit to come to India!”

Their Majesties King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola being received by President of India, Mr. V. V. Giri at Rashtrapati

Bhavan in New Delhi on January 28, 1970

Union and there is no bad reason to visit the city. Belgium offers the best location as a gateway to Europe, with its central position and the presence of European and other international institutions. The Indian company Jet Airways, for instance, understood this well and has aptly chosen Brussels as a successful hub for its international operations linking Europe and North America with India.

No, being at the heart of Europe is a diplomatic and economic bonus for us, no doubt about it.

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“This was the biggest and the longest State Visit ever, with over 150 people travelling in

different delegations”

and an opportunity. It could be a challenge if we are unable to adapt ourselves or if we don’t listen to market signals, be it at the end of the sales line or at the

production level.

But i t could also be an opportunity for us to seize. Our experience dates back centuries and the position of Antwerp in this sector carries a brand value which we should and will further develop. Why should we not look for joint undertakings in this field with Indian traders whereby the win-win solutions would benefit faster and even more to both partners?

You came on a second visit to India. You also have a friendly relation with Minister Kamal Nath. Is there a better understanding of India in Brussels, the capital of Europe?

I should say that today, India is much more on Europe’s mind than it was just a few years ago. The rise in economic power, its growing role in regional and world affairs, the proactive positions taken in some of the pressing world challenges such as climate change or the trade negotiations, the very serious approach to the issue of terrorism…, these are all factors which help us to keep in closer touch with India, and to seek synergies.

This visit was symbolic for these closer relations, and it was very helpful in developing them further.

Rest assured, it will not take another 38 years for the next Belgian State visit to come to India!

Queen Paola and Foreign Minister Mr. De Gucht and his wife visiting the historic Taj Mahal at Agra city in November 2008

Despite Belgium’s attractive tax benefits to the information technology sector, major Indian investment goes into diamond sector. Moreover, some major Indian multinationals have established their European headquarters in Amsterdam. Why Netherlands has an upper hand when it comes to attracting Indian business?

It is true that, for decades, the major Indian investments in Belgium were mostly directed towards the diamond sector. There’s nothing wrong with that. We are proud of the trust and we are happy to know that the Indian investors have benefitted well from their ventures.

B u t t h e r e ’ s m o r e t o o u r relationship. Today we see a strong diversification of the Indian investments in all sectors…heavy industries, manufacturing, logistics, services. You name it,

the Indians have found good opportunities. And we notice also that those, sometimes considerable, Indian investments have been beneficial for the companies involved (Suzlon Energy, Hanssen Transmissions, Crompton Graves, All Cargo Movers, Raymond, Ranbaxy, ArcelorMittal, Jet Airways etc.), securing good employment and opening up new markets.

As Indians are now holding key position in the global diamond business, how do Belgian people look at this factor? Does it affect Belgian-India ties in any way?

Business is a very dynamic activity, in constant evolution and the diamond business is no exception to this rule. As Belgians, we see the growing presence of Indians in the global diamond business both as a challenge

Minister De Gucht |

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hub, Avantha Group or Suzlon which are active in the energy sector in Belgium, TCS which is already operating with more than 300 employees in Brussels, etc. This is a good basis and we have underlined these existing trade and investments relations. But we must have the ambition to do better! And we believe that this State Visit has contributed to reach this strategic objective; for example, about ten contracts between Belgian and Indian companies or partners have been signed during the Visit.

How successful the Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce

& Industry and the FEB have been in projecting Belgium as an investment, trade and economic partner for the Indian businesses?

We have organized several business forums and networking session in the four cities we have visited - New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai - in order to contribute to further strengthen the existing trade and investment relations between our two very dynamic countries.

We have promoted some key Belgian companies active in the following sectors: the eco-technologies, the diamonds, the bio-pharmaceuticals and

“More than 60 Belgian Companies Already Doing Business with India”

In conversation with Harun Riaz, Mr. Philippe Vlerick, Chairman of the BICC&I - the Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Thomas

Leysen, President of the FEB – the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium - reveal why Belgian expertise is recognised worldwide

Mr. Vlerick, Mr. Leysen, what are your thoughts from the 10-day visit to India in November 2008, a State visit by King Albert II?

We are extremely satisfied! The Business delegation- 40 Belgian companies active in the key sectors of the Belgian economy – has been extremely well received in India, a very dynamic emerging country. More than 60 Belgian companies, active in the industry and the services, are already active in India. And several main Indian companies are already active in Belgium, like for example Jet Airways, which has chosen the Brussels Airport for its European

Mr. Philippe Vlerick Mr. Thomas Leysen

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the port activities. Many top Belgian companies, active in these sectors, are already active in India for years and we are strongly convinced that these partnerships can be improved. For example, several Belgian companies are worldwide leaders in the niches of the eco-technologies (energy efficiency, renewable energies, waste management, air and water cleaning, etc.) and they could offer a clear added-value to help India to tackle the challenges linked to the climate change or the increase of the energy demand. Furthermore, the contracts which have been signed during the Visit – in the field of industry, infrastructures, financial services or port activities – illustrate this high potential.

But we have also promoted Belgium as THE gateway to Europe for Indian investors. Belgium is located at the heart of Europe and the main institutions of the European Union are located in Brussels, the second largest diplomatic centre in the world after Washington. The Belgian economy is a very open economy, benefiting from state of the art infrastructure and a high quality labour force. Moreover the companies operating in Belgium benefit from a very attractive tax regime. And Belgium is very well appreciated by the expats for its great quality of live.

What are you doing to diversify the trade basket between Belgium and India, excluding the diamond business, which dominates the bi lateral trade?

We try to work on these two directions: to extend the activities of our companies in and with India and to attract more Indian investors in Belgium. The BICC&I welcomes very often Indian business delegations and organizes several business forums dedicated to India. And the key

members of the FEB (branch organisations) very often organize trade missions to India. In this regard we already look forward to participating in the broad economic mission to India which should be organized in 2010 and which would be headed by the Crown Prince.

The BICC&I has signed a M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding with Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI). Can you elaborate on the new agreement?

This MoU, which has been signed in Chennai by the FEB on behalf of the BICC&I, aims to create a framework for exchange of information, hosting of business delegations, etc. It underlines the mutual ambition to further develop the existing relationships.

How successful or difficult the Belgian-India matchmaking programme has been to set up new businesses? Are cultural differences between Europe and India a hindrance in business promotion?

Although Belgium and India are very different as far as the scale of the countries and of the population are concerned, they do have some similarities. Our two countries are organized on a federal basis, which means that the regional authorities are in charge of several policies directly linked to the day-to-day of the companies. This means also that, in India and in Belgium, we are used to successfully manage different regional and cultural identities and languages. This diversity is seen as an added-value for our two countries. Finally, our two countries are very open to the world and our companies are used to working every day with partners and employees from different nationalities. These

characteristics we have in common should help the Belgian and the Indian companies in their business relations.

What’s your current membership strength and what is the level of awareness among members about Belgian economy as well as Indian economy?

The membership of BICC&I became very representative during the last years and is bringing the BICC&I to one of the most active chambers in Belgium.

A lot of industries and businesses are paying membership and this is a clear commitment. The presence on the events is another proof.

The amount o f Be lg ian inve s tmen t i n Ind ia i s significantly low, compared to EU member countries like Germany, France, Netherlands and Norway. What needs to be done to significantly enhance Belgian presence in India and vice a versa?

As already mentioned, more than 60 Belgian companies are already active in India and on the other side the Belgian export to India has increased by 16 per cent last year. But this must indeed be increased and further diversified. Regarding the business climate in India, a lot has already been done by the Indian authorities to attract FDI or to encourage the foreign companies to extend their activities in India. We have encouraged the Indian authorities to go forward in their economic reforms and to further cut the red tape (administrative burdens, mostly for the SME’s), develop the infrastructures and facilitate the access to land ownership and further open the Indian market for foreign goods and services. And of course the Belgian authorities must also reinforce their efforts in order to attract more Indian investments.

Business |

Belgium in Focus 1�

For centuries, it has been a gateway to continental Europe and trading hub, retaining the best of Latin, Germanic and Anglo-Saxon cultures. The people of Belgium enjoy a fine reputation for their high level of productivity, loyalty, openness and multilingual skills.

Belgium is a federal state consisting of three regions: Brussels , Flanders and Wallonia. Each region has a great deal of autonomy, making Belgium one of the most modern states in the world. The regions’ powers and responsibilities include trade, the economy, employment, industry, agriculture and the environment. They each pursue a dynamic economic policy geared to their own requirements and provide free professional, confidential support to help you make your business plans a success.

Clear Attraction

These policies are bearing fruit. Foreign Direct Investment magazine (a Financial Times publication) recently ranked Flanders and Wallonia among the top 5 most attractive regions in Europe. Among large cities, Brussels ranked in the top 10 for infrastructure, quality of life and human resources . This combined regional performance makes Belgium one of the most attractive countries in Europe, offering an environment rich in opportunities, stable economic growth and a strong currency.

An Intelligent Pro-Business Tax System

While all commercial companies resident in Belgium are subject to corporate income tax, the authorities can help you find the best fiscal mechanisms allowing you to get

your project off the ground. The Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments (at FPS Finance) provides free, confidential advice. There is an intelligent tax solution for your project.

Belgian tax legislation also provides economic players with a generally applicable advance ‘ruling’ practice, which enables them to assess fiscal consequences of investment decisions in advance. The ruling is issued within three months and the ruling decision is legally binding for up to five years. The nominal tax rate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a taxable profit not exceeding €322,500, is of 24.98% and at the lower end of the European tax scale.

One of the most popular Belgian fiscal measures is the notional interest deduction. Belgium is the only European country to alleviate the differences in tax treatment between finance raised through venture capital and finance raised through borrowed capital. It allows companies to deduct a notional charge from their tax base that corresponds to a specific percentage of their ‘adjusted’ equity capital.

The ‘new domestic dividend withholding tax exemption’ is also likely to become very popular among investors. It extends the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive between the 27 EU-countries and Switzerland to all countries worldwide that have a double tax treaty with Belgium, such as Hong Kong, the United States and also India. Using Belgium

as their holding location for investments in Europe allows corporate investors from treaty countries to repatriate European profits without paying dividend withholding tax and without a limitation on profits.

The Belgian tax system has also created attractive conditions for employers, expatriate employees or researchers. R&D projects also benefit from tax incentives, such as environmentally friendly investments.

Business-Friendly Government Administrations

If you’re looking to set up shop in Europe, expand your business or make Belgium your hub of operations, then you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the capital of Europe!

The Belgian administrative authorities are keen to help you. You will be provided with customised, confidential services. We would be delighted to help you make your plans a success.

The Belgian federal and regional administrations will help you free of charge, providing flexible, non-bureaucratic and pro-investor support. Most of them have branches nearby, making it easy for you to contact them in Belgium or in your country. You will see and feel the difference.

Tax Advice

The Federal Public Service Finance has a team of experts that provides tax information and support for foreign investors

Leading Investment DestinationBelgium has a clearly international outlook due to its geographical

location, multicultural population and history

Belgium

| Invest in Belgium

1� Belgium in Focus

Invest in Belgium |

already established in Belgium. It informs and guides foreign investors on tax matters and assists them in their dealings with the tax authorities. This includes providing support for the notional interest deduction and helping to prepare the ruling file.

The Federal Public Service Economy also organises support for foreign investors, helping them with their procedures and formalities. FPS Economy’s Service for Foreign Investments will help

you find the best opportunities for your business in Belgium.

If you’re seeking assistance on other matters (locations, incentives, partners, etc.), our regional authorities will be delighted to provide you with professional help. In Brussels, the Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA) will provide you with the support you need to launch your business in the capital of Europe. Flanders Investment & Trade helps foreign businesses seeking

to set up or expand in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium and one of Europe ‘s most favourable business locations. In Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium, foreign investors are welcomed by the Office for Foreign Investors (OFI).

Belgiumhttp://invest.belgium.be/Brusselshttp://www.investinbrussels.com/ Walloniahttp://www.investinwallonia.be/ Flandershttp://www.investinflanders.com/

Full support is given by the investment offices at federal and regional level. On the federal level the Service for Foreign Investments of the Federal Public Service Economy provides general information, coordinates with the federal and regional authorities and guides you throughout your investment decision process.

Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed & Energy Service for Foreign Investments City Atrium C rue du Progres 50 Vooruitgangstraat 1210 Brussels Tel: + 32 2 277 7808 • Fax + 32 2 277 53 06www.investinbelgium.fgov.be invest.belgium@mineco.fgov.be

Ministry of the Brussels Capital Region Foreign Investments Department Bid du Jardin Botanique 20 Kruidtuinlaan1035 Brussels Tel: + 32 2 800 34 61 • Fax: + 32 2 800 38 06 www.investinbrussels.comwww.brussels.irisnet.be invest.eco@mrbc.irisnet.be

Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA) Tour & Taxis Avenue du Port 86c Havenlaan,Box 21 1 1000 Brussels Tel: + 32 2422 00 20 • Fax+ 32 2 422 00 43www.bea.irisnet.bewww.investinbrussels.cominfo@bea.irisnet.be

Ministry of the Flanders Region Flanders Investment & Trade rue Gaucheretstraat 90, 1030 Brussels Tel: + 32 2 50488 71 • Fax: + 32 2 504 88 70www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com invest@fitagency.be

Wallonia Export & Investment Agency Namur Office Park, Avenue des dessus de Lives, 6 5101 NAMUR-LOYERS Tel: +32(0)81/33.28.50 Fax: +32(0)81/33.28.69 www.investinwallonia.be investinwallonia@investinwallonia.be Federal Public Service Finance Fiscal Opt for Foreign Investments Rue Marie Theresestraat 1, box 4 1000 Brussels Tel. + 32 2 579 38 66 http://minfin.fgov.be/portail2/en/index.htm

Set up a company in just 3 daysIt takes just three days to complete all the formalities and get your business up and running. Day 1 – the Bank: open a bank account and deposit the minimum start-up capital Day 2 – the Notary: use e-deposit to draw up deed of incorporation and articles of association (you will be assigned a unique ‘enterprise number’, registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises and registered with the clerk of the Commercial Court, and your documents will be published in the Belgian Official Gazette) Day 3 – the business one-stop shop: your enterprise number is activated.

Support to Foreign Investors

Belgium in Focus 1�

Belgium and India to work Together on Port Development Projects

Various modernised and greener ports have been built in Belgium that can be used as models for developing docks in India

| Port Infrastructure

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Port of Zeebrugge

Belgium is one of the pioneering countries to log into the Indian ports business with innovative plans and programmes. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the port of Chennai and the port of Zeebrugge of Belgium in November 2008, and a MoU between a Belgian Consortium of companies and Indian Gas Limited for the construction of a port in Manappad during the State Visit of Belgian King Albert II to India clearly indicates that Belgium and Belgian companies are keen to groom the Indian docks.

The MoU between Chennai and Zeebrugge will also enlarge the scope in various fields of marine transportation, port development and for working together as sister ports, in the case of Chennai and Zeebrugge. It will also enlarge the scope of cooperation between the two ports and enable active interaction between the management and personnel of the two ports for their mutual benefits.

Cooperation between companies of both countries in the field of port development was one of the central themes of the Belgian State Visit to India as it is a field in which both countries have already been working together closely, among other things in the specific field of dredging.

Much to GainSize and Experience

In the field of port development, Belgium and India show very complementary characteristics.

On the one hand, one has a country with 12 major ports along its 7.517 km coastline, where some 133.8 million tonnes of cargo were handled in the first quarter of 2008 alone.

On the other hand, one has a much smaller country but that has been working for centuries as a major

1� Belgium in Focus

View of the Port of Antwerp

Port Infrastructure |

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Cranes in the Port of Antwerp

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entry port to Europe for goods from across the world. With several major harbours within 100 km of each other, Belgium has the largest concentration of seaports handling the highest volume of general cargo in the world.

Antwerp, one of Belgium’s major ports, harbours the second biggest chemical cluster in the world after Houston (USA) and handles nearly 200 million tonnes of cargo per year thanks to the hundreds of regular shipping lines that connect the Port of Antwerp to some 800 overseas ports. The Port of Zeebrugge, with lock-free access and berthing, is one of the most modern container ports in Europe. Connected to some 400 ports in more than 100 countries, this port is known for its handling of cars (more than 1.600.000 enter or exit Europe through this port every year). Other important Belgian ports include the Port of Ghent (specialised in the handling of bulk cargo), the Port of Liège (2nd biggest European inland port) and the Port of Brussels.

Clean Cargo Port

The aim of the MoU between the ports of Chennai and Zeebrugge is to exchange ideas, technology and other inputs from the Port of Zeebrugge to make the Chennai Port a clean cargo port.

Belgian ports have a great deal to offer to their Indian counterparts in the fields of port development. One of the best examples of the country’s maritime potential is the successful move of the port of Zeebrugge from handling dirty cargo such as coal and iron ore to containers, cars and clean cargos.

“The aim of the MoU is to exchange ideas, technology and other inputs from the Port of Zeebrugge to make the Chennai Port a clean cargo port”

Opportunities in Dredging

Industry analysts feel dredging could be a major area of cooperation between Belgium and India in the sector of port development. As per the Eleventh Plan (2007-12) of India, the country needs a total capital dredging requirement of almost 298.28 million cubic metres in all the major ports. Hence India is leaving no stone unturned to attract overseas companies in this area.

Belgium is already involved in the dredging operations at some of the major ports of South India such as the Kochi and Ennore ports. But this MoU has opened new vistas and now Belgium can explore possibilities in the Chennai Port as well.

Infrastructural Development

Setting its sights on becoming ‘the Detroit of Asia’, the Government of Tamil Nadu state is giving extra emphasis to the infrastructure development of the Chennai Port. Infrastructural development projects carried out by the Belgian companies on the Ennore port of Tamil Nadu demonstrated the calibre of Belgian private sector. The Chennai Port was therefore keen to invite Belgian expertise, particularly in maritime transportation.

Green Project

With increasing focus on green projects, the MoU also emphasizes that the Port of Zeebrugge will exchange the best practices to reduce ecological footprint of logistical activities at the Chennai Port.

Belgium in Focus 20

“Diamond Trade Brought Belgium on the Map of India”

Diamonds seem to be a pretty solid base to build the Indo-Belgian relationship on, as a number of Indian traders are setting up base in Antwerp. Editor Harun

Riaz interviews Mr. Dilip Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of Rosy Blue Group.

Dilip Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, Rosy Blue, Antwerp

“I am one of the lucky persons to have received the Baronship from His Majesty King Albert

II of Belgium”

How will you describe Rosy Blue, a well-known Indian diamond company’s relationship with Belgium?

We see Rosy Blue-Antwerp as one of our hubs for global activities. Each of our companies in India, the United States and Belgium, are run by local management. However, a lot of intellectual discussions and strategies come from Antwerp.

Rosy Blue-Antwerp was our first operation outside of India. This company managed to build relationships in various parts of the world, with retailers, suppliers, mining companies and so on.

Are you planning to celebrate completion of 35 years in Antwerp, Belgium?

We have celebrated completion of 30 years. However, given the financial markets conditions, Rosy Blue is unlikely to organize any event. I think it’s time to stop partying and get on with business of savings.

Belgium has awarded you the honour of attributing you the title of Baron. What are your thoughts on this award?

If I talk about the Hindu philosophy, you work without expectations, as Krishna had told Arjun. So, basically you do what you think is good work, what you feel happy with and not feel guilty about, and you rather enjoy doing it. If you make sure that other colleagues in the business are happy, and if you take it down the neighbours, the village, the town, the city and the country and the world you live in. If your work makes people happy, then you feel good about it.

I do it naturally and not to show. And very seldom my work gets recognized. And I must say that I must be one of the few lucky guys to have received the Belgian honour. There are many people who do the same work, but I am one of the lucky persons to have received the Baronship from His Majesty King Albert II.

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| Diamonds

It’s a very humbling feeling. When I was told about it, I was crying. I was asked to go to the Royal Palace. The right hand man of King Albert II informed me that His Majesty has bestowed upon me the Baronship, I became emotional. I hoped I could live up to the expectation.

How did you choose Belgium as your overseas business destination, as it seems the Gujarati

21 Belgium in Focus

business community has preferred to go to English speaking countries?

I came to Belgium for the diamond business. Yes, it is true that historically we had the relationship with Britain rather than the continental Europe, but over a period of time, that has changed and one adapts to the culture of Europe.

When I came in I was Indian. Today I would say that I am a European Indian.

The Ghent University launched an India Platform on 8th of October 2008. One of the lively topics of debate was: are cultural differences between Europe and India a barrier for business?

It’s important that we understand each other’s culture. It’s only when people start to travel that they appreciate other people’s culture. You have to understand European culture, do a little bit of adjustment and then you can do business. You can touch their hearts by getting to know their culture. At the end of the day, people have to feel comfortable.

If cultural difference was a hindrance, it’s changing very rapidly. The world is a very small place. People travel from one place to another very rapidly. People adapt to local cultures.

Though Belgium-India bilateral trade is plus 8 billion US $, two-thirds of it is in diamond and jewellery sector. Is it good or bad for the other sectors?

It is an interesting question. My answer is that we must not throw away what we have in our hands. The diamond business brought Belgium on the map of India. On the other side, India came on the map of Belgium. A lot of focus needs to be put on business to be done. But I wish to add that to be dependent on a single commodity is a risky thing.

Many towns in the world, which were dependent on for example steel mill, went down, when the steel mill was closed. Hence on both sides in India

“Belgians will give you a long term

solution”

and Belgium, we need to look into other business possibilities. But it doesn’t mean that we should stop the diamond business.

In November 2008, Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola came to India on a State visit. Is it only symbolic visit or will it provide boost to business and tourism?

One should not underestimate the relationship building process. The relationship is not built overnight. The previous Belgian visits to India and the Indian leadership visits to Belgium, have all added to the Indo-Belgian bilateral ties.

Culturally, it is important to understand each other. What we do, how we do and why we do it.

its expertise in development of Indian infrastructure?

Multiple efforts are being made now, with the trade agreement in place. Nuclear energy is also one of the areas for business. As for infrastructure, you need to understand the size of India versus Belgium and the risk appetite.

In India, people go for quick fix solutions, while Belgians don’t take that route. Belgians will give you a long term solution.

Infrastructure development in India is a huge task and Belgians can not do everything. Roughly US $ 800 billion is required in next five years.

As of today, the total Belgian investment is US $ 180 million, which is significantly low. Why has India not come onto the Belgian investment radar?

Belgians are wise investors. They are not rushing into things. My humble opinion is that India overmarketed itself at hugged prices to show overvaluation in the stock market. Focus should be on building solid businesses. Stock market valuation is derivative. It can’t be your target and intention. Belgians understand it well. Belgians are long time players.

One can study the Belgian investment in Africa. It is a good success story. My feeling is that Belgian businesses are not over leveraged. They are cash rich and good people to work with. Very straight forward and there is no hidden agenda and no games.

Diamonds |

Dilip Mehta is CEO of the Rosy Blue Group. He established Rosy Blue N.V. in 1973, in Antwerp (Belgium) as the first overseas office of B. Arunkumar (presently Rosy Blue India). His efforts led to global expansion through greenfield growth and acquisitions, resulting in sales, manufacturing and financing offices in 15 countries spanning four continents.

It is also very important that academicians accompany the royal family. There was very little focus in India on education, some 15 to 20 years back. Now the literacy rate in India is going up. Belgium and India have to understand each other to work in the education area.

His Majesty, King Albert II will be able to open doors for people in India and in Belgium. This will generate business not only in education and diamonds but in other sectors as well.

As an Indian journalist, first thing I have noticed in Belgium is the developed infrastructure and good management of it. What is preventing Belgium to offer

Belgium in Focus 22

The Biopharma industry of Belgium is on a roll. With the largest number of medicines in development in the world per capita, Belgium shows exceptional results in terms of innovation and industrial development in the field of biopharmaceuticals.

World Leader in Biopharma

Belgian laboratories are known worldwide for developing drugs and vaccines for major pandemics such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.

A large pool of high quality scientists, world-class research encouraged by substantial tax incentives and development facilities as well as the strong institutional networks are the factors that have helped Belgium to become a booming star in the biopharma world.

In absolute figures, Belgium is the world’s second largest exporter of drugs and the seventh largest investor in Research and Development (R&D). With the highest concentration of life science employees in the world, the country has become the birthplace of several world-class R&D centres for the biopharma industry. Drugs

Due to extensive knowledge of new technologies and considerable experience, Belgium’s Biopharmaceutical sector has carved a

formidable presence across the globe

DevelopingSynergies in the

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and vaccines for major world pandemics (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria…) have been developed in Belgian laboratories. Renowned companies such as GSK Biologicals, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Pfizer and UCB have invested tens of billions of Euros over the past few years in the Belgian Biopharma industry.

Biopharma

23 Belgium in Focus

the next few months, Essenscia will be touring the world with representatives of the Belgian Biopharma sector to promote the country’s assets in the field to international investors and foreign researchers. It is in this context that an Indian-Belgian Biopharma Forum was organised during the State Visit to India in Mumbai on November 6, 2008 in presence of Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola and the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Karel De Gucht. The Forum focused on “Belgium and India, two complementary and growing biopharma clusters”. Some of the speakers present at the event included Thomas Leysen, President of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises, Yves Verschueren, CEO of Essenscia, Dr. Ajit Shetty, Chairman of Janssen Pharmaceutica and Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB.

For more information on the Biopharmaceutical sector in Belgium, we encourage you to check out the following website: www.investinbiopharma.be

Belgium has over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises in the life sciences sector specialising in fundamental and clinical research.

The biotechnology sector of Belgium recorded a revenue of about three billion Euros in 2006. And, in the same year Belgian companies accounted for 16 per cent of Europe’s turnover in biotech and around 10 per cent of R&D spending. In its study entitled “Innovation in Pharmaceutical B i o t e c h n o l o g y ” published in 2006, the Organisation for Economic C o - o p e r a t i o n a n d Deve lopment (OECD) presents Belgium as by far the best performing country on the basis of four indicators for innovation and industrial development.

M u l t i n a t i o n a l b i o p h a r m a companies are flocking to Belgium not just for the manufacturing and marketing of their product but also to conduct clinical trials and outsource medical research.

Besides the high class facilities and qualified manpower, lowest tax rate in Europe on revenues from patents makes Belgium one of the most attractive investment locations for biopharma R&D and manufacturing.

International cooperation and complementarities with India

“Thanks to a number of pioneers, a world reputation in R&D and a series of positive measures taken by the Belgian authorities, Belgium unites all the assets needed (…) to present itself at international level as a land that welcomes investment

in biopharmaceuticals”, declares Yves Verschueren, Managing Director of Essenscia, the Belgian Federation of Chemical Industries and Life Sciences.

N o w m o r e t h a n e v e r , biopharmaceutical companies are seeking international cooperation to strengthen research and production in Belgium. “Hence the importance of emphasising our assets abroad. We need to convince foreign companies wishing to invest in Europe to choose Belgium”, according to Yves Verschueren. This is why, in September 2008, Essenscia and the Belgian Minister for Enterprise and Simplification, Vincent Van Quickenborne, launched the campaign “Belgium the place to be for biopharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing” at the GSK Biologicals research centre in Rixensart, next to Brussels. Over

Belgian laboratories are known worldwide for developing drugs and vaccines for

major pandemics such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS

Biopharmaceutical |

Lowest tax rate in Europe on revenues from patents makes Belgium one of the most

attractive investment locations

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Biopharma

Belgium in Focus 2�

Belgian Firm to Help Facelift Indian Heritage

The famous chariot in Vitthala Temple in HampiKrishna temple at Hampi

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A Belgian company, Janssen Pharmaceutica has taken up the task of restoring the lost grandeur of Hampi and Tipu Sultan’s Palace in Karnataka, India

By Shilpy Arora

Hampi, a cultural village in Karnataka and Tipu Sultan’s Palace in Bangalore have been taken up for maintenance by a Belgian company, Janssen Pharmaceutica. The MoU was singed between the company and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2005 to join forces to conduct research on the treatment of biodegradation in the architectural grandeurs.

Janssen Pharmaceutica is one of the most innovative companies and its products are used all over the world in both human and animal health and in material protection. The company is known for bringing out about 70 new active substances among which the most known are probably Imodium and Motilium.

But Janssen Pharmaceutica also has consistent experience in the fields of restoration and preservation and has already collaborated with various popular world heritage sites such as the world famous Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Army Museum of Xian in China.

As per the MoU, Janssen Pharmaceutica has supplied to the ASI the necessary compounds used to remove the fungal decay, mould and termites, free of cost. It has also provided monetary support to the ASI Chemical Branch in Dehradun as well as training to the scientists and chemists at the sites.

The finding of the research could be applied to other damaged monuments across the country.

Conservation Drive at Hampi

Hampi is believed to have been built in the 15th century AD. Once known as the cultural capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, the Hampi complex is constructed in the form of a sprawling campus with compound walls and gateway towers. The most impressive monument on the site is the Vitthala Temple Complex which has 56 musical pillars that resonate when tapped.

Even though Hampi was the last capital of the last Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar, it had been in a state of neglect for years. Lichens, bacterial growth and fungi destroyed the magnificent art work and this led to the bio-deterioration of the monuments.

2� Belgium in Focus

Belgium’s Versatile Chairman of Janssen Pharmaceutica Dr. Ajit Baron Shetty

Young and talented Ajit Shetty, a native of Bangalore city in India decided to join Belgian pharmaceutical giant Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1976, after his Ph.D. in Mettallurgy from Cambridge and an MBA degree from Carnegie Mellon University in US. It’s been 33 long years and he has never looked back since then.

In 1999 , hard work , dedication and burning desire to succeed led Dr. Shetty to be appointed Managing Director of Janssen Pharmaceutica. He has been chairing the company’s Board of Directors since 2004. Under his leadership, Janssen Pharmaceutica developed into a worldwide research and production centre for Johnson & Johnson.

Dr. Ajit Shetty was conferred the title of Baron In 2007 by His Majesty King Albert II. The prestigious title was announced for his exceptional merits.

Talking to Belgium in Focus Dr. Shetty remarked that Belgium is a great destination for Indian firms for various reasons which are well known: • a well established liberal economy • cosmopolitan culture • headquarters of European institutions • central location • business oriented economic and fiscal climate • multilingual. For these reasons, Indian companies that headquarter themselves in Belgium for European Operations will find their business goals well served.

He added, “It has been very easy as an Indian to adjust to living in Belgium. The people are very hospitable and almost everybody speaks English which makes it easy to settle. Given the attractions of Belgium as a country and the warmth of the population to welcoming outsiders makes it easy to adjust to living conditions”.

Dr. Shetty is married to Christine Clerinx, a niece of the founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica, the late Paul Janssen, and lives with his family in Vosselaar.

King Albert II conferring the title of Baron on Dr. Ajit Shetty (Photo: Dr. Ajit Shetty)

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Over the last three years, Janssen Pharmaceutica has been providing the necessary equipments and chemicals to ASI for the identification and removal of fungi and algae in the monuments.

Tipu Sultan Palace

Popularly known as the Bangalore Fort, Tipu Sultan Palace is famous for the Tudor architecture (mostly used in English castles) which is rarely found in India. The beautiful wooden palace houses the world famous rockets and missiles that were used by the armies of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Most part of the palace is facing serious decay due to the existence of mould and lichen that have slowly damaged the wooden structure. Moreover the binding material used in the paintings is a good host for bacterial growth. It has been observed by ASI that spraying of insecticides will cause

stains on the paintings and thus it was necessary to find an alternative solution with the collaboration of Janssen Pharmaceutica, a company recognised as a centre of excellence in wood protection.

The main aim of these two projects is to carry out a research to identify biodegradation and develop effective treatment products and strategies. The projects are expected to be completed by early 2009.

Temple at Tipu’s Palace

Belgium in Focus 2�

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| Study in Belgium

Belgium: Study Destination for Indian Students

A comprehensive enquiry done in 2008 into the number of Indian students that are registered in 18 major Belgian universities shows surprising results in more than one aspect. The least one could say is that they were very encouraging with regard to the academic ties that link both our countries.

The study revealed that more than 400 Indian students were registered in Belgian universities during the academic year 2007/08. This number is expected to increase in the years to come and was one of the focuses of the recent State Visit to India of H.M. King Albert II, accompanied by an important academic delegation.

A majority of the Indian students attracted by Belgian universities are studying in scientific and management branches.

One finds Indian students at the Solvay Business School (ULB, Brussels), the University of Antwerp, the Vlerick Management School (Ghent) and the Catholic University of Louvain (French-speaking, UCL, Louvain-la-neuve).... But it would seem that the vast majority of them are registered at the Catholic University of Leuven (Dutch-speaking, KUL, Leuven) and the University of Ghent.

Editor Harun Riaz went to Ghent and Leuven to see how the Indian students were living the Belgian student life and collect their thoughts.

2� Belgium in Focus

The U.S., Australia and the U.K. are classical destinations for Indian students. But continental Europe’s eagerness to internationalise is altering this situation as it aims to become a preferred destination for highly skilled Indian students and professionals. Many EU states have created better conditions for attracting and retaining such knowledge migrants.

As a result, some of its vibrant educational destinations come into the picture today. Belgium is one of those…. With its exceptional quality of life, the accessibility of its institutions and a growing sensitivity to cultural diversity, the country is an appealing place to spend one’s formational years. Ghent University—a pluralistic university which is one of the fastest growing in Europe with over 30,000 students—holds internationalisation as one of its major ambitions. Its current rector in particular, Prof. Dr. Paul Van Cauwenberge has given a new impulse in opening up the University to the rest of the world, not only by presenting Ghent as an attractive place to live and study, but also by setting up academic platforms to promote international collaboration.

One of these is the brand new India Platform UGent. This will not only be home to a variety of academic initiatives involving India, but also another home for Indian students and faculty at Ghent University. With its expertise on the cultural differences and the challenges of communication between India and Europe, it will function as a meeting point for Indian students and young professionals.

Quality Education and Infrastructure for Indian Students

For most young Indians, Belgium is not the first place that comes to mind when they have ambitions to study abroad. This is unfortunate, because Belgium’s high level of education offers unique career opportunities, while its society is a safe haven. Sarah

Claerhout spoke to some Indian students at the Ghent University India Platform launch in October 2008.

Of the 3000 international students at Ghent University about 80 are Indian

Though Indian students are still a fairly small group (of the 3000 international students at Ghent in 2007 about 80 are Indian), they love Ghent. We spoke to some of them…

According to Amit Kumar, Ghent University is a unique destination

biggest growth of any human being”. His experience is not only about attending lectures and passing exams, he tells us, it is about his development as a human being. “Ghent has all the ingredients to enjoy student life, it has a huge sports centre, and it is a nice place to go out.” In short, Amit ends this interview, “Ik hou van Gent!!” (I love Ghent in Dutch!).

for Indian students as in Ghent “all is included”. Amit came here under a bilateral agreement between Flanders and India and is currently pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering at the EnVOC research group ( E n v i r o n m e n t a l O r g a n i c Chemistry and Technology). From the very beginning, he felt part of this research group: a friendly, highly motivated and result-oriented environment that has greatly enriched his own research. The university is very smoothly organized as compared to Indian institutions, and, in the field of engineering the students get a first-hand experience of “any phenomena of concern,” which is not always the case in India.

Do ing r e sea rch a t Ghen t Univers i ty a l so gave h im several opportunities for short-term research around Europe. The international atmosphere taught him that “learning from different cultures results in the

Dr. Nagender Rao, a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Molecular Biotechnology, could not agree more. He too enjoys the sports facilities and the vibrancy of the city. His colleagues at Ghent University are “good friends, very cooperative and with sound knowledge” and they welcome international members. Which does not mean that the atmosphere in the research labs is not challenging and demanding at times! What he finds especially appealing about Belgium is the absence of prejudice towards the English language, which one finds in some other European countries.

The world and India, according to Nagender, should be informed better about these advantages. He said Belgium should promote itself better and let the international students know about its existence: “advertise more and provide better funding opportunities and you will develop as an attractive destination for Indian students.”

The author is a research and teaching assistant at the Research Centre Comparitive Cultural Sciences (Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap) of Ghent University, Belgium. She can be reached at sarah.claerhout@UGent.be

Study in Belgium |

Belgium in Focus 2�

The number of Indian students studying at the University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven), founded in 1425, has been rising steadily over the last few years. Earlier, Indian students focused primarily on the world renowned K.U.Leuven Theology program, but this time has clearly passed. Strong programs, like Engineering, Bioengineering and Medical Sciences, have taken their rightful place in the list of most popular and appreciated academic programs. It is clear that a strong push towards further internationalisation and the ever increasing offer of quality English language programs at K.U.Leuven and other universities is responsible for this recent surge in international students’ interest. Where, until a few years ago, the only options for Indian and other international students for a quality post graduate education abroad, were expensive programs in the US, UK or Australian institutions, nowadays quality European research institutions like the K.U.Leuven provide a valuable and more economical alternative. Universities in Belgium are partially financed by their respective regional/community governments. Hence they can offer superior quality academic programs, also to international students, for a much cheaper prize than their Anglo-Saxon competitors. In addition, the three doctoral schools at K.U.Leuven (Science, Technology and Engineering, Biomedical Sciences and Humanities), have all their PhD projects available in English and online, for any eligible quality international student to see and apply to. All advertised projects come with pre-approved financing.

Recent independent surveys at the University of Leuven show that Indian and other international students appreciate other aspects of a Belgian higher education even more than the reasonable cost. It turns out that they first and foremost value the safety and living conditions in which they can study and do research in Leuven. In the comparative worldwide survey of about

A Hub for Indian Students in BelgiumTake a survey in Indian schools. What are the dominant feelings you see? Studying

abroad, off course and the notion has become a blip in the radar of Belgian universities, particularly the University of Leuven, located 20 Km from Brussels.

By Bart Hendrickx

100 top universities (including Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and many others) no one scored better on these aspects than Leuven did. Another surprise was that, next to the expert knowledge of the academics and a wide variety in top notch research, students very much appreciated the English language skills of the Leuven professors, even more so than at many UK or US institutions. This very positive testimony from especially Indian students is at least partially responsible for a 90 per cent (pro-) active recommendation rate for the K.U.Leuven. A score with which the University of Leuven again

local non-academic population. The country enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world as well as first class health care, education and social security systems. All this is at the disposal of the duly registered international student or researcher.

Leuven, in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, is for many a surprise discovery in itself. It is very safe, friendly and student-oriented town with a long and rich history, brimming with culture and leisure opportunities. Its unique location at the heart of Europe means that major European capitals such as Brussels, Paris,

| Study in Belgium

The author is Director of International Office, University of Leuven, which was founded in 1425. Inspired by the European Christian tradition, K.U. Leuven embraces the values of free inquiry and pursues a policy of non-discrimination. For more details visit: www.kuleuven.be/english

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outperforms most, if not all, of its peer institutions in the world wide survey.

W i t h o v e r 1 2 0 d i f f e r e n t nationalities represented in its student body, K.U.Leuven has become a very multicultural city-campus. The Association of Indian Students at Leuven (ISAL) is one of the most active student organisations in the country.

Belgium lies at the cross-roads of cultures in Europe. Hence English is widely spoken, also by the

London, or Amsterdam are only a (very) short train ride away. There are daily direct flights to Brussels International Airport (12 minutes from Leuven) from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

2� Belgium in Focus

Jazz Legends of BelgiumBelgian Jazz talents have been mesmerizing the world over the past 100 years,

writes Jempi Samyn, renowned Jazz critic and radio DJ of Belgium

The young scene : saxophone player Robin Verheyen

The young scene : guitarist Quentin Liégeois

Along with Joachim Patenier (1485-1524), the creator of landscape painting; with Antoine Wiertz (1806-1865), the lyrical painter; with a plethora of sculptors, painters, musicians, brass workers and others, Dinant can legitimately pride itself on having been the birthplace on November 6th 1814 of Antoine-Joseph–aka Adolphe-Sax, a prolific and inspired inventor in the manufacture

of musical instruments of which the most renowned is indubitably the saxophone.

Belgium has always given birth to very talented musicians

Tuba and trombone player Michel Massot On his instrument, Toots Thielemans ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced

Jempi Samyn began to write about Jazz, first in school papers, and later in magazines such as Stage, Jazz’ Halo, Jazzmozaïek, Bass Magazine (NL), Jazz Hot (F), the daily press and for www.jazzreview.com (website in the US).

Currently, he is the co-author of “The Finest in Belgian Jazz” (WERF 2002). He also presents two radio shows in Brussels- “Jazz Station” on FM Brussel and “Jazz my Azz” on Radio Panik. He can be reached at: jempi.samyn@gmail.com

At the beginning of the 20th century, Belgium was one of the first three countries in Europe where jazz was played, together with France and Great Britain.

It is remarkable that such a small country that can hardly be found on the world map has been so important to the evolution of jazz in Europe. The explanation can be found in its perfect location (centre of Europe, by the sea side and close to the UK) and in the extreme hospitality of its inmates.

Some big names in jazz, such as Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy, even spent a big part of their lives in Belgium.

Since the beginning of jazz, Belgium has always given birth to very talented musicians. Stan Brenders, Fud Candrix, Django Reinhardt, René Thomas, Francy Boland, Jacques Pelzer, Jack Sels, Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Bert Joris, Fred Van Hove, Paolo Radoni, Pierre Van Dormael are some of the best Belgian talents.

Furthermore, thanks to the introduction of jazz music in the Belgian Conservatories and related music colleges since 1979, the number of well educated Belgian jazz musicians has dramatically increased, resulting in a huge list of “names to follow”, such as Kris Defoort, Nic Thys, Jef Neve, Robin Verheyen, Fred Delplancq, Jean-Paul Estiévenart and Quentin Liégeois, to name just a few.

The small size of the territory, however, has always pushed Belgian musicians to seek their success in larger countries with a well known jazz tradition, such as France

or the American continent. Django Reinhardt moved to France, René Thomas started a second life in Canada and Toots Thielemans became U.S. citizen in 1965.

The amateur of live jazz can choose from a wide range of well functioning jazz clubs in every major Belgian city the whole year through, as well as from a number of successful jazz festivals such as Ghent Jazz Festival with a couple of top events each year at different locations, the yearly Skoda Jazz Festival (formerly Audi Jazz) in Brussels, Jazz Bruges, Jazz à Liège, The Motives Festival, The Brussels Jazz Marathon, Dinant Jazz Nights, Brosella Folk and Jazz, Gaume Jazz Festival and Jazz à Gouvy.

Jazz |

Jef Neve was nominated for the ‘young talent’ on the Eurodjango in Luxemburg for 2007

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Belgium in Focus 30

The Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Brussels was founded in 1877. The collection of this museum is divided into two separate collections, both housed in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. 92 European and non-European instruments came from a private collection, and 98 Indian instruments had been given to Belgium by the Indian King Sourindro Mohun Tagore.

When the famous instrument builder Victor-Charles Mahillon got to know about the collection of Indian instruments, he immediately asked the Conservatory for permission to classify and manage the collection. On February 1st 1877, he became the first curator of the Musical Ins t ruments Museum of the Conservatory, being entrusted with 190 instruments.

The first purchase of Mahillon comprised of 37 instruments made by Adolphe Sax. He enlarged the collection further and with the help of sponsors and erudite amateurs. Excellent contacts with diplomats abroad brought several non-European instruments to the museum.

Since the instruments are the property of the Belgian government, they can never be sold or given away.

The museum values the sound of the instruments more than their esthetical appearance. The historical value of an instrument and its representative value for a given geographic area are the most important criteria to accept an instrument into the collection.

Therefore identical instruments are rarely accepted, and for scientific and financial reasons the museum strives towards the greatest diversity possible.

Thanks to this policy, the MIM already possessed 3.300 unique

Museum of MelodyThe collection of the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) of Brussels

demonstrates that musical instruments are more than just entertainment

98 Indian instruments had been given to the King of the Belgians by the Indian King

Sourindro Mohun Tagore

Right after the opening of the Musical Instruments Museum, an atelier for the restoration of instruments was founded. Copies of existing instruments were manufactured and some of the old instruments were restored to be played again. The policy however

is to keep the instruments in their original form as much as possible. Manipulation is limited to stabilising the instrument in the way it has entered the museum.

The 1.500 instruments that can currently be admired in the museum are exposed by historical and systematic themes. Fragments of music of almost every instrument

| Music

The Musical Instruments museum organises a series of events, courses and concerts of various kinds (traditional, classic, jazz).For more information visit: www.mim.fgov.be

Opening Hours of the MIM

Tuesday to Friday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday 10.00 am to 5:00 pm

Ticket sales end 45 minutes before closing time.

pieces in 1924, and formed thereby one of the most important collections in the world. Based on this collection a first ‘Catalogue’ was edited: it constituted a universal system of classification for musical instruments. The basic principles of this system are still used. Moreover, it is thanks to the collection of Tagore, who as a musicologist was the Director of the School for Bengal Music in Calcutta, that Mahillon was able to realise this Catalogue.

shown can be listened to in a headphone. During guided tours and workshops both adults and children can try out a variety of instruments. During concerts in the concert hall of the MIM, instruments can be discovered while being played live.

The museum also houses a library and a museum shop. The restaurant on the top floor of the beautiful Art-Nouveau building has an astonishing view upon the entire city of Brussels.

The museum of musical instruments is situated in a beautiful building. The top floor restaurant provides a

360° view of Brussels.

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31 Belgium in Focus

The Discovery Path

This playful path in the pedagogical section of the museum is intended for all people who are curious to learn. Photography, its nature, its language, its specific features a re presented in an instructive and amusing way, whether in a s tudio f rom the 1900s, through optical illusions or manipulat ions o f images. Finding out about photography in this space can be effectively completed by a workshop in the traditional laboratory working with silver salts or the brand-new digital laboratory.

Besides these three exhibitions, the museum is equipped with a new projection room with retractable rows of seats that offers a schedule of art films and video works.

For lovers of click art, the Museum of Photography in Charleroi is a must visit site. The museum tells the entire history of the rich and dynamic world of photography and offers glimpses into the field of aesthetic research, the struggles of humanists and artistic movements along with the development of photographic technique.

A specialized library and a documentation centre are open to students and researchers, and an educational service offers a fun and creative approach to photography in the Discovery Area and through different forms of entertainment.

After its renovation, the Museum of Photography in Charleroi witnessed an evolution through the opening of its new wing in June 2008.

Currently, the museum houses the following

exhibitions

A new hanging of the permanent collections

W o r k s t h a t h e l p e d i n t h e dissemination of the photographic medium and excerpts from avant-garde films and experimental videos at the end of the 1960s are exhibited in this section.

The museum tells the entire history of the rich and dynamic world of photography

Entrance of the new wing of the Museum of Photography in Charleroi, Belgium

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Opening HoursTuesday to Sunday 10.00 to 18.00

For groups and guided tours, contactAmélie Van Liefferinge,Educational Department,

+32 (0) 71/43.58.10 E-mail: service.educatif@museephoto.be

For company events, contactCécile Druart

+32 (0) 71/43.58.10 E-mail: cecile.druart@museephoto.be)

For more information:www.museephoto.be

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Permanent collections section of the museum

Belgium Preserves Photography Par Excellence With a collection of more than 80,000 photographs and three million

negatives, the Museum of Photography in Charleroi, Belgium is the largest museum of photography in Europe

The temporary exhibitions

Nine exhibitions per year, at the rate of three simultaneous exhibitions, go more deeply along the innumerable paths that the photographic image has taken. After every four months creative, documentary and historical aspects follow each other to sketch out as wide a panorama as possible of photography, both Belgian and international, historical and contemporary.

Photography |

Belgium in Focus 32

Come and Visit BelgiumWell situated between France, Germany and the Netherlands, the Kingdom of

Belgium encompasses all the best that Europe has to offer

The gateway and capital of Belgium, Brussels, compares well with any of the world’s most sophisticated cities. Home to 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Belgium is famous for great food, and the greatest beers; for museums, art and architecture from Roman to Art Nouveau. Belgium offers a multitude of experiences from canal cruising in Bruges and diamond-hunting in Antwerp to dining in Michelin-starred restaurants in

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Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact

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Brussels and visiting historic battle sites like Waterloo, Ypres and the Battle of the Bulge. Don’t be fooled by its size. It may be a small country (making it easy to get around) but it’s big in many ways.

Its flagship city Brussels is capital of the European Union, which has attracted a huge expatriate population to the city placing it among the most global cities in the world. Brussels is also

known for its squares, monuments and magni f icent museums. The impressive main square (Grand’Place) with the town hall and surrounding alleyways and old houses is one of the finest in the world.

Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, hosts a series of beautiful medieval historical cities renowned across the world. Ghent’s magnificent cathedral, university, its medieval castle and bell tower testify to the city’s essential role in medieval Europe.

Antwerp is Belgium’s capital of cool and style as the nest of the famous Antwerp Six fashion designers and host town of the acclaimed Antwerp Fashion Museum (ModeNatie). It is also a leading diamond and art centre and the birthplace of the famous Flemish Master Rubens.

Nicknamed the “Venice of the North”, Bruges is one of the most visited old towns of Europe, drawing in tourists from all over the world. Its magnificent canals provide a setting for unforgettable boat rides and sightseeing, and its world-renowned lace makes for an excellent souvenir to take home.

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33 Belgium in Focus

Belgium is also well-known for its impressive natural tourism areas: to the North, the Belgian coast has a dozen seaside resorts and some 67 km of sandy beaches. To the south, the Ardennes region with its vast wooded areas cut through with rivers, offers winter sports enthusiasts a chance to do some cross-country skiing and summer sports enthusiasts a chance to do try out trekking or some adventurous water sports.

Wallonia, the southern part of the country, is home to such beautiful and charming cities as Liège, which sits proudly at the confluence of two major rivers and boasts several historical monuments, including the famous Palace of Prince-Bishops.

Antwerp, Diamond capital of Belgium

Beauty lies in the hands of the beer holder

The city of Namur is set in a stunning valley landscape. Lovers of history and legend will enjoy touring its citadel and the châteaux, abbeys and churches of the region.

Mons is home to a wealth of architectural heritage (the Belfri, the Town Hall, Sainte-Waudru Church) as well as museums and its own rich folklore (the Ducasse Festival).

All across Belgium you can visit and discover century old beer brewing abbeys like Saint-Sixtus (Westvleteren beer), Westmalle, Orval, Scroumont (Chimay beer), Maredsous or Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy (Rochefort beer) where you will be shown the

secrets of the master brewer monks and will enjoy beer and cheese tasting like nowhere else.

After the obvious richness of its cultural heritage, the best aspect of Belgium is the great life-style amenities you will find there. Belgian cities feature numerous jazz clubs, great concert venues, trendy hotels and restaurants, shops and galleries. It’s a great country for listening to music, visiting art museums, eating out and just plain wandering.

People who like their history, architecture, art with a dash of excellent wining and dining will feel quite at home.

Another appealing aspect that makes Belgium an even more attractive tourist destination, is its interconnectivity with other main European cities: Paris, London, and Amsterdam are respectively a little more than one, two and three hours away by train, and Brussels airport is linked to all the European capitals by airway.

For more information visit:www.visitbelgium.com or http://www.visitflanders.com/ (Flanders) or http://www.opt.be/accueil/en/index.html (Wallonia)

With a few other canal-based northern cities, Bruges is often referred to as “The Venice of the North”

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Did you know?

There are more castles per square mile in Belgium than anywhere else in the world

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Belgium in Focus 3�

Sip, the Belgian WayEven though India is better known for enjoying whiskey and rum, Belgian

Breweries have been striving to promote beer culture in the country

As its economy grows, the middle class is hunting for the latest ways to flaunt its affluence and there is nothing better than Belgian Beer. Indian Beer industry however is struggling to compete with international brands. In this scenario, the arrival of the Belgian Beer Companies in India has gratified the obsession of Indian beer lovers.

Belgium has always been known as a country of Beer. Beer is not merely a drink in Belgium, but something that represents the country’s culture and tradition. Almost all small towns have their own signature beer. The country produces 500 types of beer in almost 115 breweries and many more local micro-breweries.

Right from the thirst-quenching beers and special beers, to light and strong beers, be they blond, amber-coloured, reddish or brown, fruity, bitter or acid; you will find beers for everyone and for all occasions. Nowhere else in the world you will find a larger choice of regional, authentic and colourful beers.

Moreover, Belgians are known for the most beautiful presentation of beer. Beer bottles are sealed with a metal cap or a cork and are tinted with darker colour to prevent the beer from any negative effects from light. Each beer has its own shape of glass and is served according to the rules of the art.

Famous Belgian Beers

• Stella Artois: Stella Artois which is the best selling Belgian beer in the world and the fifth largest international beer brand is now available in India. Sold in more than 80 countries, Stella Artois is brewed to perfection using the original Stella Artois yeast and the celebrated Saaz hops. In April

2008, Stella Artois won eight gold medals at the New York Festivals Innovative Advertising Awards.

• Hoegaarden: The Original White Beer: Hoegaarden is the original Belgian White (Wheat) beer, with a unique and extremely complex brewing process. The brand is first fermented and then is refermented within the bottle. The beer has unique hexagonal chunky tumbler style glass. It is an ideal accompaniment to Thai or Chinese dishes, and is an ideal beer for hot summer days.

• Leffe: Designed for real beer lovers, Leffe has established itself as a leader for its distinct taste, texture feel and a unique brewing heritage. It is a popular saying “To hold a glass of Leffe is to savour rich history of Belgium”. The beer has a delicate and light, malty aroma and a subtle, sweet finish.

• Duvel, devil in Dutch, is indeed a devilish beer full of contradictions and surprising

| Belgian Beer

Rochefort Brewery

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discoveries. Its gold-coloured appearance, delicate sparkle and silky taste appear to associate with the tradition of great Pilsners. On the other hand, Duvel’s refined taste with complex aromas hides an 8.5 per cent alcohol content! The secret of Duvel’s subtle bitterness resides in the hop and yeasts used during the brewing process. The yeasts are cultivated from the same source that Albert Moortgat brought with him from Scotland in 1918.

• Trappist Beers: There are only seven trappist breweries in the world. Only beer brewed at an abbey, under the watchful eye of the Cistercian monastic community living there, can rightfully use the strictly controlled name of “Trappiste”. There are only seven breweries entitled to use the “Trapise” name, six of them are in Belgium (Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westvleteren, Westmalle and Achel) and one in The Netherlands (Koningshoeven). Taste a Trappist…we’ll guarantee you’ll be converted!

3� Belgium in Focus

ADDRESSES IN INDIA

Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi50-N Shantipath,Chanakyapuri-110021 New DelhiT: +91 11 4242 8000 • F: +91 11 4242 8002E: newdelhi@diplobel.fed.bewww.diplomatie.be/newdelhi

Flanders Investment and Trade OfficesT: +91 11 4242 8100 • F: +91 11 4242 8110E: newdelhi@fitagency.comwww.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

Wallonia and Brussels Investment and Trade Offices (AWEX)T: +91 11 4242 8200 • F: +91 11 4242 8210E: newdelhi@awex.in

Consulate General of Belgium in MumbaiMorena, 11 M.L. Dahanukar Marg(Carmichael Road), Mumbai 400026T: +91 22 2351 2115, 2351 5186, 2352 1602F: +91 22 23 52 14 20E: mumbai@diplobel.fed.bewww.diplomatie.be/mumbai

FIT MumbaiT: +91 22 235 22 195F: +91 22 235 20 697E: mumbai@fitagency.com

AWEX MumbaiT: +91 22 2432 1829F: +91 22 2432 2609

FIT and AWEX BangaloreNo. 102, I floor Prestige Posiedon139, Residency Road, Bangalore - 560 025T: +91 80 22 22 99 21F: +91 80 22 22 99 20E: bangalore@fitagency.com

ADDRESSES IN BElGIuM

http://invest.belgium.be/

Belgo Indian Chamber of Commerce & IndustryING Building, 24 avenue Marnix1000 BrusselsT: +32 2 547 2910

Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed & Energy Service for Foreign InvestmentsAtrium C rue du Progres 50 Vooruitgangstraat 1210 Brussels T: +32 2 277 7808 • F: +32 2 277 53 06E: invest.belgium@mineco.fgov.be www.investinbelgium.fgov.be

Federal Public Service Finance Fiscal Opt for Foreign Investments Rue Marie Theresestraat 1, box 4 1000 Brussels T: +32 2 579 3866 E: albert. wolfs@minfin.fed.be www.fiscus.fgov.be

Ministry of the Brussels Capital Region Foreign Investments Department Bvd du Jardin Botanique 20 Kruidtuinlaan1035 Brussels T: +32 2 800 3461 • F: +32 2 800 3806 E: invest.eco@mrbc.irisnet.be www.investinbrussels.comwww.brussels.irisnet.be

Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA) Tour & Taxis Avenue du Port 86c Havenlaan,Box 21 1 1000 Brussels T: +32 2 422 0020 • F: +32 2 422 0043E: info@bea.irisnet.bewww.bea.irisnet.bewww.investinbrussels.com

Ministry of the Flanders Region Flanders Investment & Trade rue Gaucheretstraat 90 1030 Brussels T: +32 2 504 8871 • F: +32 2 504 8870E: invest@fitagency.be www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

Wallonia Export & Investment Agency Namur Office Park Avenue des dessus de Lives, 6 5101 NAMUR-LOYERS Tel: +32(0)81/33.28.50 Fax: +32(0)81/33.28.69 www.investinwallonia.be investinwallonia@investinwallonia.be

Useful Business Contact Information

For further information, contact:

Embassy of Belgium50-N, Shantipath, ChanakyapuriNew Delhi - 110021Tel: 4242 8000Fax: 4242 8002E-mail: newdelhi@diplobel.fed.be