Belgium
General
Information & Brief Economic Summary
Standards
Government
Contacts in Belgium
US Contacts in
Belgium
Belgium
Government Contacts
Trade
Associations and Other Key Contacts
Trade Event
Schedule
General Information & Brief
Economic Summary
Belgium, a highly developed
market economy, belongs to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of leading
industrialized democracies. In recent years, with a
geographic area about equal to that of Maryland, and a
population of just over 10 million, Belgium ranks seventh in
per capita GDP worldwide. With exports equivalent to about
two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade.
The country draws its trade advantages from the central
geographic region, and a highly skilled, multilingual and
industrious labor force.
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Standards
The importance of ISO (International Standards Organization)
9000 in selling to Europe: Simply put, ISO 9000 (EN2900 in
Europe: ANSI/ASQC Q 90 System in the U.S.) defines the basic
requirements for a manufacturing quality control system. While
voluntary, European manufacturers are increasingly requesting
that their suppliers be ISO 9000 registered. In addition, more
and more European importers are making the same request of
their European and American Suppliers.
The new ISO 9001:2000 standard will become valid as of
December 15th 2003. The purpose behind this ISO 9001:2000
standards is to provide users of the ISO 9000 standards an
opportunity to add value and enhance their performance through
continuous improvement of their process. For more information,
visit the International Organization for Standardization's
website: http://ww.iso.ch Product and technical
standards:
Contact information in the United
States:
National Institute of Standards and
Certification
Contacts: Joanne Overman or Maureen Breitenberg
Tel: (301) 975-2000
Fax: (301) 975-7128
Contact information in Belgium:
Belgian Standards Institute
Avenue de la Braban++onne, 29
1000 Brussels
Mr. P Croon, Director
Tel: 32/2/734-9205
Fax: 32/2/733-4264
The following is a list of useful Web sites:
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Government
Contacts in Belgium
US Government Contacts:
U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
Personnel:
Ms. Camille Sailer, Commercial Counselor
Ms. Angela Dawkins, Commercial Attache
EMB/FCS
PSC 82 Box 002
APO AE 09710
Tel: +32/2 508-24-25
Fax: +32/2 512-66-53
Website: http://www.buyusa.be
U.S. Trade and Investment Center
asbl/nzw
Avenue des Arts, 46,
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 32/2/502-6261
Fax: 32/2/502-6077
Economic Section:
Ms. Terri Robl, Economic Counselor
EMB/ECON PSC 82 Box 002
APO AE 09710
Tel: +32/2 508-24-48
Fax: +32/2 513-53-33
Website: http://www.usembassy.be
American Chambers of Commerce:
Ms. Jo Ann Broger, General Manager
American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium
Avenue des Arts, 50, Box 5
1000 Brussels
Tel: +32/2 513-67-70
Fax: +32/2 513-35-90
Website: http://www.amcham.be
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Belgian Government
Contacts:
Belgian Embassy
Mr. Luc Devolder, Minister Counselor For Economic Affairs
3330 Garfield Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
Tel: 202/333-6900
Fax: 202/333-5457
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Trade Associations and
Other Key Contacts:
European Federation of Handling Industries,
FEM
Mr. Guy Van Doorslaer, General Secretariat
Diamant Building - 5th Floor
80 Boulevard Auguste Reyers
1030 Brussels
Belgium
Tel +32(2)706 82 30, Fax +32 (2) 706 82 50
Brussels Chamber of Commerce
Olivier Willocx, General Director
Avenue Louise, 500
1050 Brussels
Tel: +32/2 648-50-50-02
Fax: +32/2 640-93-28
Website: http://www.ccib.be
F.E.B. (Federation of Belgian
Enterprises)
Mr. Luc Vansteenkiste, President
Tony Vandeputte, Managing Director
Rue Ravenstein, 4
1000 Brussels
Tel: +32/2 515-08-11
Fax: +32/2 515-09-99
Website: http://www.vbo-feb.be
AGORIA (The Multisector Federation for the
Technology Industry)
Mr. Paul Soete, Chief Executive Officer
Diamant Building
A. Reyerslaan 80
1030 Brussels
Tel: +32/2 706-78-00
Fax: +32/2 706-78-01
Website: http://www.agoria.be
VLAAMS EKONOMISCH VERBOND (V.E.V. - Flemish Economic
Union)
Mr. Ludo Verhoeven, Chairman
Mieke Offeciers-Van de Wiele, Managing Director
Philippe Muyters, General Director
Brouwersvliet, 5, Box 4
2000 Antwerp
Tel: +32/3 202-44-00
Fax: +32/3 233-76-60
Website: http://www.vev.be
V.E.V. is the representative employers federation covering
the Flemish part of Belgium. It is independent of the F.E.B.,
but cooperates with it since their activities are parallel. It
acts as spokesman for its members' interests with the Flemish
regional authority and tries to stimulate the Flemish economy
by a wide range of different initiatives.
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Trade Event
Schedule
Please contact the Commercial Service in Belgium for a detailed
list of Trade Events.
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Source: US Department of Commerce.
*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or
publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The
Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
the information contained herein. The listing of information
here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular
information by the Material Handling Industry.