International
In Brussels:
(458,000)
of the population are non-Belgian
Nationalities
(with 108 languages)
international enterprises have their headquarters or subsidiaries
diplomatic delegations
International Associations
of the self-employed are of foreign origin
Beci supports you with the development of your business in Brussels and with internationalisation of your business.
With the International Community, BECI aims to create an inclusive ecosystem that facilitates cross-border connections and enables local and international entrepreneurs and professionals to collaborate, share expertise, and drive growth.
Beci International Community welcomes
- foreign companies and entrepreneurs who are planning or have already set up a business or representation in Brussels
- Bilateral and international chambers of commerce;
- expat professionals and companies with international staff;
- foreign embassies and diplomats working to accelerate the economic opportunities between Belgium and EU and their countries;
- Belgian professionals and companies willing to develop their international activities;
- Belgian professionals and companies supporting international business activities and/or the integration of expats in Brussels/Belgium
Beci’s international activities have two main directions aimed at:
• engage in international trade
• take their products and services across borders
• expand their international business
• form partnerships to access new markets
• know the rules and regulations of the European Union and of non-EU markets and business opportunities
• understand the Brussels, Belgian, and EU rules and regulations of working and doing business
• create business or presence in Brussels
• connect to Belgian counterparts
• share their countries’ expertise enhancing the Brussels business landscape.
What can Beci and the Brussels Business Community do for you?
Connect Belgian businesses and entrepreneurs with international partners, clients, investors; facilitate connections between exporters and importers via Enterprise Europe Network and Connects platforms and business matchmaking events.
Provide information, resources, guidance to Belgian businesses seeking to expand internationally. This involves supporting them in legal, regulatory, trade/export, and cultural challenges.
Promote International Trade and Build Trade Capacity: provide information and advisory services on policy guidelines, regulations, and customs procedures.
Globalsign certificate, certificate of origin, ATA Carnet. Learn more
Advocate for policies that support international trade, doing business with international partners, and other initiatives that benefit businesses engaged in global activities by our participation and involvement in the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce , Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO-FEB), and the Enterprise Europe Network EEN network.
Provide support in terms of information, networking, resources, helping them navigate the Belgian system.
Build awareness, bridge gaps and facilitate learning about different practices by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and experiences through our Hello 500, Hello Brussels, Hello World and other events.
Export/Import
Exporting internationally involves mastering a whole series of factors inherent in exporting goods or services, from the regulations in force within the European domestic market to local regulations in destination countries outside the European Union, from transport to payments. There are a number of steps you need to take to maximise your chances of international success.
5,966 billion euros
worth of Brussels export (2016 figures)
60 km
60 km between Brussels and the nearest border
10,294
subsidiaries of Brussels companies abroad
Is your company planning to export goods outside the EU? The guide to exporting goods helps you understand whether your company is ready to export outside the EU, and describes the various stages in the export process.
THE EUROPEAN MARKET: seize the opportunities!
Depending on your SME's objectives, we can prepare you to meet the challenges of the European market.
We can answer all your questions about:
- Cross-border delivery of your goods
- CE marking, standardisation and REACH*
- E-commerce, digitalisation and contracts
- Cross-border VAT
- Services and posting of workers
- Intellectual property
- Public procurement
*The REACH regulation aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment by identifying the intrinsic properties of chemical substances more effectively and at an earlier stage.
European public procurement
How can you select the tenders that interest you and maximise your chances of winning a contract?
A public procurement contract may be issued by a European institution, such as the Commission, the Parliament, the Council, the European Court of Justice, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Committee of the Regions, etc., but also by ministries, local authorities, national or regional agencies, etc.
10 Practical tips for maximising your chances of winning a public procurement contract in Europe :
- Identify opportunities by selecting contract notices: All public contracts in Europe are published on the European site Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). The platform enables calls for tender to be selected on the basis of criteria relating to the principals (contracting authorities), countries and sectors or products concerned.
- Prepare yourself with a checklist and a strict reverse schedule
- Read the Terms of Reference (TOR) carefully.
- Determine what the evaluators are looking for.
- Set up a consortium with a partner
- Gather the required documents
- Entrust the drafting of the offer to an expert, either in-house or through collaboration with an external consultant.
- Only respond to the specifications/terms of reference. Avoid adding elements that are not requested.
- Highlight your strengths, expertise and experience.
- Check and re-read your proposal.
Contact us to personalise your TED search profile so that you can receive the targeted calls for tenders that interest you by e-mail and benefit from practical advice to optimise your chances of winning a contract.
5 steps to exporting a product to a market outside the European Union
Finding a business partner abroad is not easy. How do you identify the right partner in your target country?
How can you promote your company to foreign companies looking for new contacts, without embarking on expensive marketing campaigns?
How can you be sure of the reliability of the company identified through internet searches?
To select a potential target market, we need to check whether there is a demand for the product and whether it would be competitive on the export market. Import statistics show whether the target country already imports the type of product, where the imports come from and whether the supply on the market is already high.
There are trade fairs, of course, but there are also a wide range of B2B networking events. In addition, Enterprise Europe Network's new partnership opportunities platform helps you find a partner abroad for your company. Enterprise Europe Brussels supports SMEs in promoting their profiles and business opportunities on the platform, and in putting them in touch with foreign companies.
Although this website may be linked to other websites, we are not involved, directly or indirectly, in any endorsement, association, sponsorship, membership or affiliation with any linked website, unless otherwise indicated.
You should carefully read the legal notices and other terms of use of any website that you link to from this website. Linking to any other external pages or other websites is at your own risk.
The Incoterm to be used must be agreed with your customer for exports, or your supplier for imports. Incoterms® define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers in terms of delivery, insurance and transport of goods under sales contracts, and determine who is responsible for customs formalities on export to the EU and import formalities in the country of destination.
Enterprise Europe Brussels offers SMEs in Brussels tailor-made advice on how to use the 2020 Incoterms.
The documents prepared for export are also used, at least in part, for import into the country of destination. Access2Markets provides a list of the documents required, depending on the product being exported, the country of origin and the country of destination. The export declaration provides the necessary information on the goods themselves and on the transport. It includes: the origin of the goods, the country of destination, the customs codes of the goods and the value of the goods.
You can lodge the customs declaration yourself or through a customs representative. A customs agency can act on your behalf.
If the product originates from the European Union, you can use this preferential origin to obtain a reduction in import tariffs for countries benefiting from a free trade agreement with the EU. The Access2Markets platform has the tool My Trade Assistant which allows you to determine the origin of your product through a list of questions. Calling in an expert is sometimes necessary for SMEs with little experience.
Please note that for non-preferential origin products, you may be required to present a certificate of origin. This can be obtained from BECI- Brussels Chamber of Commerce.
When your goods arrive in the destination country, local import requirements and procedures will apply to your exports. The documents required by the local authorities include commercial invoices, packing lists, import licences, proof of preferential origin (EUR.1, EUR-MED, declaration of origin or certificate of origin), provided that a preferential trade agreement is in force between the EU and the country of destination and that your products comply with the applicable rules of origin.
Use My Trade Assistant to define these requirements and be able to align them with your buyer. Additional advice can be given if required.
Getting in touch with foreign partners quickly and easily
How and where to find your partners?
Take part in international events to meet potential partners in your sector of activity or related to your business objective: EEN Matchmaking Events
Register for the EEN partnership platform and get discovered by foreign companies by creating a profile and defining your offer. This is the way to find your first international partners free of charge. We'll then take care of making contact with the partners of your choice.
Enterprise Europe Network is present in more than 60 countries and Enterprise Europe Brussels can call on its local network of contacts in more than 30 countries outside the EU.
We can help you in the following areas: the European market, internationalisation and networking, innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. Since 2008, we have helped nearly 18,600 Brussels companies, with an average satisfaction rate of 87%.
Bilateral Chambers of Commerce
There are 39 Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce accredited abroad. They help to promote bilateral trade between Belgium, Luxembourg and the country in which they are based. The Chambers are made up of entrepreneurs who provide you with the right feedback, support you and answer practical questions about exploring new markets abroad.
Find a local contact.
· Statistical Data Belgium: Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, collects, produces and disseminates reliable and relevant figures on the Belgian economy, society, and territory.
· Belgian Foreign Trade Agency (BFTA) - is a public institution, which provides support to the three Regions and the federal government in promoting foreign trade.
· Belgian Chambers Abroad: There are 39 accredited Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad. They help promote bilateral trade between Belgium, Luxembourg, and the country in which they are established. They provide a sounding board and support and help entrepreneurs practically in exploring new markets abroad.
· Partena Professional supporting entrepreneurs, with specific offers for starters, self-employed, SMEs, enterprises, and accountants
- support international and foreign companies willing to hire in Belgium:
· KBC Brussels - Bank accounts and other products with personalised support for expats from our member and partner
- Discover Brussels
· Hub.Brussels - public agency that supports to start or develop your business, set up your company in Brussels, develop your network or export your goods and services
· Why.Brussels - initiative of Hub.Brussels digital one-stop-shop for foreign companies and investors considering to set-up a business in Brussels.
· Doing Business in Brussels - at 1819, any Brussels entrepreneur, self-employed person or retailer gets an answer to all their entrepreneurial questions free of charge
· Enterprise Europe Network - Brussels
· Expat Welcome Desk - offers personalised administrative assistance service to all those who come to work in Brussels in or around the European and international institutions. It also has the practical information on various aspects of life in Belgium, from finding a school for kids, a family doctor, language courses to choosing a utility provider, health insurance, or opening a bank account.
· Welcome and Support to Newcomers (including free integration and language courses):
- French-Speaking Community: BAPA
- Flemish Community Bon
Both sites have lots of information on integration in Brussels, e.g. housing, social security, health and insurance, hospitals, training and courses, legal assistance, diploma confirmation, etc.
· Actiris - Brussels Regional Employment service, the website is available in FR and NL, but a lot of employees speak English
· Cite des Metiers - a centre for information and consultation on professional orientation, education, and career advancement. The centre offers expert advice, use of multimedia area, and various events all free of charge. No appointment needed.
