Doing business in Brussels
These pages provide comprehensive information on doing business in the Brussels-Capital Region, including the guide for businesspeople, and on employing staff, finding the right location, the environment, import and export, mobility, fairs and shows, public contracts and innovation. Other pages are devoted to investments in the Region, the Brussels stock exchange (Euronext Brussels) and subsidies & grants.
The main tasks of the Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region’s Administration de l’Economie et de l’Emploi
The Administration de l'Economie et de l'Emploi (AEE) provides financial support to companies and bodies through investment grants, consultancy, training and more. The AEE is the Brussels-Capital Region’s official representative in economic domains and also manages agricultural activities. Additionally, the AEE promotes the Region among potential foreign investors and encourages foreign trade.
The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA)
The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA) is a preferred public partner of anyone who does business in the Brussels-Capital Region, be they project initiators, company founders, large companies, SMEs, the self-employed or foreign investors. The BEA informs and guides businesspeople on numerous issues, from subsidies, financing and administration formalities, to planning & environmental regulations and every other aspect of economic activity in Brussels. The BEA also advises companies with regard to innovation, investment and globalisation.
1819: everything you need to know about doing business in BrusselsAll services provided to businesspeople in Brussels are accessible via a single phone number – 1819. All calls are taken by advisors who will identify the information or service you need and refer you to the institution or partner best able to help you. You can call 1819 Monday to Friday between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. |
Business development initiatives
Huge investments have been made in infrastructure, business and trade centres and elsewhere in a number of underprivileged neighbourhoods of the Brussels-Capital Region in partnership with the communes.
The Government of the Brussels-Capital Region has designated the Brussels Regional Development Agency (BRDA) to coordinate the network of eight Brussels public business centres.
The Region is committed to the long-term development of new sectors, such as cutting-edge technologies, the environmental sector and fashion. The conversion of former industrial spaces also contributes to job creation.
Subsidies are granted to Brussels universities and research centres to ensure continued high performance in R&D, which often results in new economic activities and new jobs. For more information over research and development initiatives, see the page 'Innovation and R&D' of this site.
Trade organizations
Independent businesspeople can also call on their professional body to apply for assistance for their business undertakings.
A list of trade organizations recognised as representatives by the Region is available on the 'Advice and Information for businesses and the self-employed' page on this website.
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| Brussels is a dynamic economy in which numerous jobs and new businesses are created on a daily basis. Per capita, Brussels creates more wealth than any other part of Belgium (20 % of the nation’s wealth created by 10 % of its population). (Source: website of the Brussels Minister for Employment at www.cerexhe.irisnet.be) |
| The Brussels-Capital Region was home to 80,866 companies in 2008, 84 % of which were active in the service sector (B2B, trade, finance, public services). (Source: Institut Bruxellois de Statistique et d'Analyse - IBSA, September 2010) |
Trade: a priority sector in the Brussels-Capital RegionThe Brussels-Capital Region has earmarked the retail trade as a priority sector in which development must be encouraged. (Source: Brussels-Capital Region government policy accord 2009-2014) |
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