ABOUT US - PARTNERSHIPS
DELOITTE
DE WOLF & PARTNERS
GROUP T
ING
JONES DAY
MOORE STEPHENS
PARKOFFICE
PORT OF ANTWERP
PORT OF ZEEBRUGGE
PROVINCE OF EAST FLANDERS
UNIVERSITEIT GENT
PROVINCE OF WEST FLANDERS
VITO
A global leader in professional services
Deloitte, the leading audit and consulting practice in Belgium, offers high value added services in five areas: audit, accounting, tax, consulting, and corporate finance. More than 2,000 specialists in Belgium serve international companies, large national enterprises, SMEs and public institutions.
The Belgian practice is a member firm of the international group Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a global leader in professional services, with 115,000 professionals in more than 150 countries.
Five competencies in just one name
Deloitte is the one firm whose people understand business issues from every perspective, enabling the delivery of more comprehensive solutions for clients through a broad range of services.
Deloitte believes in a tailor-made service because no two clients have the same needs.
Chinese Services Group in Belgium
China is one of Belgium's principal investment partners. As Chinese businesses look to expand within Europe,
Belgium's central location, international standing and tax incentives for businesses are all factors in the country's favour to attract investment from China. Of course, business practices, and accounting/tax rules, can differ widely between Belgium and China. Deloitte has established a Chinese Services Group in Belgium to facilitate communication and co-ordinate between clients and Deloitte specialists. Using links throughout the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu global organisation as necessary, Deloitte Belgium provides co-ordinated support to Chinese clients investing in Belgium/Europe, and vice versa.
topDe Wolf & Partners is a business focused law firm, resolutely anchored in Belgium (in Brussels and Kortrijk) but fostering a well-established and growing international activity (in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in China and on the African continent). Its core practice areas are corporate and commercial law but over the years the firm has gradually developed to become a full service law firm advising and/or representing clients in the areas of tax, intellectual property, EU law, employment, banking & finance, insolvency, information technology and e-commerce, real estate and antitrust.
The firm started off with 16 lawyers in 1997 and grew to over 50 lawyers who are active over four offices (Brussels, Kortrijk, Luxemburg and Shanghai). A German Desk, French Desk and an Italian Desk respond to the growing needs of local and international clients.
In China, De Wolf & Partners' activity has literally skyrocketed since the firm opened its Shanghai office in 2006. Its offer stands at a crossroads of that of international law firms and of local firms in China. Owing to this local competence and its international expertise De Wolf & Partners has been involved in most of the major transactions or investments by Belgian companies in China. The Shanghai Office also is led by Philippe Snel who was the first Belgian lawyer to establish a practice in China in 2004. Currently Mr. Snel is also Chairman of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (with whom FCCC collaborates on regular occasions) and is a trusted advisor to the Belgian authorities in China.
Moreover, De Wolf & Partners' development in China enabled the firm to develop and strengthen the ties between its China practice and its already wintered practice in Africa. De Wolf & Partners' African practice has grown significantly and is now recognized, both in Belgium and internationally, as one of the leading European practices for Central Africa.
Yves Tavernier who is an active member of FCCC has joined De Wolf & Partners since 1st March together with Herman Lemaire and Francis Goffin who are recognized Africa specialists.
De Wolf & Partners is a member of the "Osborne Clarke Alliance" (www.ocalliance.com). The Alliance is a joint venture of 6 high quality and like-minded European law firms, now active in 16 locations in 9 countries.
topGROUP T is a renowned institute of higher education situated in the heart of Flanders' most famous student town, Leuven.
The region hosts a range of research institutes and high-tech companies that create an ideal learning environment for the students at GROUP T Leuven Engineering School.
GROUP T - associated with the University of Leuven - has forged an extensive network with universities and enterprises in Europe and Asia.
These relations have resulted in joint degree programs with several notable universities in Beijing, Hangzhou, Xi'an, and Wuhan.
Today, one out of ten students at GROUP T is Chinese, and several Chinese graduates have been employed by Belgian companies.
In recognition of GROUP T's strong alliances with the world of enterprise, its President was offered the co-chairmanship of the UNESCO Chair on Cooperation between Higher Engineering Education and Industries, which was established in 2005 at Beijing Jiaotong University.
topING's ranking in Financial Europe is constantly moving upwards. At the present time it is in the top 10 with results which assert the bank's reputation for dynamism and modernism.
ING Group is operational in many parts of the world.
ING is offering professional consultancy, a tightly-knit network of skills and integrated financial services wherever they are necessary.
From its home base in Belgium, ING opens wide the doors to the leading world markets.
Its 112,000-strong staff boosts the group's activities in over fifty countries.
An essential global cover to support and represent companies which thrive and develop on commercial transaction flows.
ING provides a worldwide financial service, orchestrated from a broad range of products encompassing many sectors.
One of ING's strengths is generating sturdy and stringent synergies between its manifold activities and its various entities.
For more information on our activities in China, don't hesitate to contact your Relationship Manager.
topJones Day is one of the world's largest law firms, providing commercial and practical advice across the full range of legal services required by both local and multinational corporations; the Firm represents more than half of the Fortune 500 companies. In addition to our United States and European networks, we have eight offices in Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.
The Firm has been active in China for more than 20 years, assisting clients in meeting their investment, financial and business objectives in this expanding market. The Beijing Office is the Firm's second office in Mainland China, making Jones Day one of few integrated international law firms with offices in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
topParkoffice business centres , situated in a renovated loft (Ghent) and a historical building (Kortrijk), offers fully furnished offices on a prime site, for a single person as well as for an entire team.
The meeting room facilities are ideal for receiving customers and for organising seminars, trainings or presentations. The meeting rooms can simply be booked online.
Parkoffice offers several formulas, depending on the customer's needs: a postal address with a telephone number, a virtual office, a flexible workspace, a full-time office.
All those formulas come with full telecommunication options, state of the art VOIP telephony, professional IT support and skilled secretarial and business support services
Social contact and human scale constitute the main themes in the concept of the buildings. The Park café, the lounge and relax areas invite contemplation and relaxation. You can meet with your colleagues for an informal chat, catch new ideas and learn from their experience. A smooth and natural office style invites creativity and an open mind.
Parkoffice is part of a network of 700 business centres all over the world, where your international business contacts and meetings can be facilitated.
YOUR CHINESE BUSINESS CENTRE IN THE HEART OF EUROPE
The services in the Parkoffice business centres offer numerous advantages to Chinese companies that desire a successful start or a strong image in Europe. Both centres are strategically located in a metropolis, near universities and easily accessible by plane or TGV.
The presence of the Flanders Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the Ghent Parkoffice centre and the subsequent close cooperation, facilitate communication and networking.
Nova Relocation, a globally renowned company specialised in the relocation of expats is also situated in Parkoffice. It offers specific solutions for Chinese citizens in Europe.
Parkoffice has developed specific packages for Chinese entrepreneurs to start off their local administration and take care of work and living licenses.
The Parkoffice international alliance with other business centres facilitates your organisation and marketing in the whole world.
Take a look at our Chinese website www.parkoffice.com. We are of course at your disposal for any further questions you might have. Feel free to contact us for further information or for a visit to our business centres in Ghent and Kortrijk:
F. Rooseveltlaan 348-349
9000 Ghent
Belgium
T: +32 (0)9 265 02 11
F: +32 (0)9 265 02 50
info@parkoffice.com
Doorniksestraat 63
8500 Kortrijk
Belgium
F: +32 (0)56 96 06 99
kortrijk@parkoffice.com
www.parkoffice.com
topThe Port of Antwerp is with its 190 million tonnes, the second largest European port.
It is nr. 1 for conventional cargo and houses the biggest petrochemical cluster in Europe.
60% of the European purchasing power lies within 500 kilometers from Antwerp.
Our central locations in this market and our excellent hinterland connections by rail, barge and road make our port the leading gateway for European traffic.
Nearby areas of our port are also considered ideal for European Distribution Centers (EDC's).
Because of these 'cost& time' saving solutions, the Port of Antwerp has shown a double digit growth of over the past year in containers.
In 2008 the Port of Antwerp handled 8.7 million TEU.
The Impact-on China project of APA has been strengthened last year by a representative who is living and working in Shanghai.
With an extensive knowledge of the Chinese market, Mr. Jan Van der Borght is supporting the commercial and promotional activities of the China team increasing the visibility of the Antwerp Port in China.
The Port of Antwerp wishes to increase significantly its market share, name recognition and presence in the Asia, particularly in China.
Furthermore it wants to tighten its links with China and will continue its efforts by hosting several events in China and Belgium.
topZeebrugge port - Belgium is a prime hub location in Europe to organise imports
and exports from.
It is a top class container transhipment hub – 49.8 million tonnes of cargo – 2.5 million TEU in 2010.
Zeebrugge serves many deep sea destinations and is connected to the East with twelve fixed weekly services. Hence all major Chinese ports are served daily.
Zeebrugge is one of the few ports that can easily handle the larger container vessels due to the coastal maritime access and the sophisticated terminal equipment. Goods, general cargo, reefer cargo, project cargo amongst others can be treated with all the necessary value-added services within the port area. Moreover, frequent competitive and reliable logistics deliver and receive the cargoes throughout Europe. Zeebrugge is also a hub for natural gaz.
International companies have chosen Zeebrugge as their distribution hub and new settlements are being realised.
Zeebrugge is also the largest automotive hub in the world with 1,605,000 units handled in 2010.
It is the strategy of the port to be at service to the European exports as well as being an efficient gateway for intercontinental imports and all related services both in storage, value-added services and transportation to markets.
In order to be able to face the expected traffic expansion new port areas are continuously being equipped.
Information: www.portofzeebrugge.be
topProvince of East Flanders
15 years of collaboration between the Province of East Flanders and the Province of Hebei
In 2006, the provincial government of East Flanders is celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of its friendship and cooperation agreement with the province of Hebei.
The provincial governments of East Flanders and Hebei officially signed the agreement in October 1991.
East Flanders was the second Belgian province after Antwerp to conclude such an agreement with a Chinese province.
After all, at the time friendship and cooperation agreements represented the only means of collaborating with the Chinese.
The choice of Hebei was based on a number of strategic considerations.
Hebei had then, as it still has now, a great deal to offer. It is close to the Chinese capital, Beijing, which entails significant economic benefits, for example with respect to supplies of consumer goods and in connection with the relocation of industry driven out of the capital by creeping urbanisation.
Moreover, Hebei is situated on China's rapidly developing East Coast, which has not only enjoyed vigorous economic growth over the last few decades, but also has a concentration of ports that have opened up the area to the outside world, offering Belgian port operators tremendous potential for expanding their business.
Solid principles of cooperation and a clear objective
Right from the start, cooperation between the two provinces has been governed by the same set of principles.
First of all, provincial cooperation is both subsidiary and complementary to relations between Belgium's federal and Flemish governments and the People's Republic of China.
In other words, the focus here is strictly on cooperation at the provincial level within the framework of a geographical niche policy. Accordingly, there is constant consultation with both the federal and Flemish authorities.
Secondly, all action plans are geared towards synergies.
Since our efforts in this connection have borne fruit, our government has built up a solid position in its relations with China in general and Hebei in particular.
Accordingly, most of the time East Flanders is closely involved in the preparations for major missions initiated by the federal or Flemish authorities.
At the same time, one economic objective was clear right from the outset: cooperation with Hebei had to open up fresh opportunities for companies based in East Flanders.
Furthermore, there was mounting interest in showcasing East Flanders as an ideal region in which the Chinese authorities and Chinese industry could invest.
This aspect was given special attention, with particular emphasis placed on our province's ports and its strengths with respect to distribution and logistics.
The provincial government of East Flanders also swiftly adopted a policy designed to support and facilitate economic initiatives taken by companies located there, opting for intense collaboration at the administrative level from the very beginning.
This approach resulted in several administrative projects in domains as varied as culture, monument conservation, education, contingency management, communication, collaboration between ports, and so on.
In short, our government aimed to generate a certain goodwill that would form the basis of economic cooperation.
A structural approach for further collaboration was then adopted, prompting an agreement in 1998 in which the respective provincial governments undertook to set up a 'China Desk' and an 'East Flanders Desk' providing a wide range of services for companies.
Our China Desk also makes sure that the province's China policy is brought into line every day with the policy of the other actors involved.
The collaboration agreement concluded in 1998 with the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce provided vital support in several fields and generated clear added value for both provinces as well as for their companies.
Since 2005, these efforts have been continued by the newly founded Flemish-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (FCCC). Today, the main focus of our cooperation is to render specific services to East Flemish companies and organise regular seminars and colloquia on appropriate topics.
Shift towards a sectoral and pragmatic approach
Despite these clearly defined principles, initially the development of relations with China in general and Hebei in particular was hampered by various communication problems caused not only by foreseeable language problems, but also by considerable differences at the administrative level.
In our present focus on China, these problems are quickly forgotten, but at the time they definitely impeded the further development of mutual relations.
In the early years of our cooperation, our government opted for major cross-sectoral missions involving major companies.
No doubt this yielded certain benefits in terms of boosting our position and enhancing our visibility, but in terms of actual results it turned out not to be the best choice.
So gradually the focus shifted towards SMEs, which are certainly ambitious, but sometimes lack clout and require a fair amount of some support to pursue their objectives in international markets.
As the two partners got to know each other better, the economic strategy increasingly shifted towards a sectoral approach in line with the opportunities offered by Hebei and the specific know-how and qualities of East Flanders' industrial players.
One thing is clear: the results of participation in economic missions depend firstly on the aims and targets set, and secondly on external factors from the participating companies' point of view, e.g. their compatibility with potential Chinese partners, legislative restrictions and regulations.
A number of companies restricted themselves to exploring the market or generally searching for opportunities; others received intense guidance in their quest to establish long-lasting structural cooperation with Chinese partners.
In our view, social and administrative matters are where the task of a government ends.
The maximum a government can provide is the comfort of optimal relations between governments that guarantee a maximum degree of support and goodwill - undoubtedly a plus when dealing with a state-run economy.
It is then left up to the companies involved to weigh up the development of economic relations.
Naturally, the pragmatic approach taken for our economic missions is greatly appreciated by the industry, for not only is a great deal of attention always paid to setting up individual, tailor-made programmes and following up on them, but any unexpected opportunities that arise are instantly taken advantage of as well.
As stated above, between them the two provincial governments have achieved a great deal under their cooperation agreement.
For example, in 1996 an agreement was signed between what was then Hebei Normal University and our own Mercator College in Ghent.
The aim of that agreement was to invite language professors and students to Ghent for a whole academic year of training, and dispatch language professors to Hebei as well.
This project was successful for a couple of years, but had to be terminated when a major effort was made in the late 1990s to merge the many higher education institutions. Several projects were realised with Ghent University too.
For instance, a legal seminar on intellectual property rights was organised to coincide with the mission to Shanghai led by Prince Philippe in 2003.
In addition Hebei officially participated in the biennial technology fair Flanders Technology International and several editions of Agriflora, the major agricultural fair organised every year in Ghent.
The most important and successful event featuring China and Hebei province in East Flanders was undoubtedly their joint hosting of the 60th edition of Flanders' annual international trade fair: Accenta.
Not only China and Hebei participate in organising the fair; they also sent a major cultural delegation and around a hundred Chinese business managers. One result was the organisation of a highly successful China Business Forum attended by some 350 participants.
Mutual appreciation and satisfactory results
The efficient and intense cooperation between Hebei and East Flanders was also appreciated by higher authorities in both countries.
In 1998, the province of East Flanders had the honour of welcoming Mr Li Lanqing, who was China's vice prime minister at the time, for an official working visit.
Two years later this was followed up with an official visit by Mr Wu Bangguo, who was then vice prime minister, but since 2003 has chaired the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
But Belgium, too, appreciated the efforts made by East Flanders to develop relations with China.
Indeed, the province of East Flanders has been actively involved in the last three missions there led by Prince Philippe, and in the last two our government was also involved in the preliminary meetings.
The most recent trade mission, which took place at the end of 2003, even included a meeting between Prince Philippe and the governor and vice governor of Hebei. During the official visit paid to China by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in 2003, both provincial governments signed an agreement on the implementation of a scientific forest project in the northern part of Hebei. During the very latest mission to China, organised by Flemish Minister-President Leterme and Vice Minister-President Fientje Moerman in November 2005, Minister Moerman and a large number of the participating Flemish companies and institutions paid a working visit to Hebei, which produced a number of cooperation agreements. For instance, the Flemish Land Agency (VLM), for instance, intends to implement a demonstration project showcasing the know-how it has to offer; and Aquafin has committed itself to helping Hebei with its water treatment.
All along, the ultimate goals of cooperation have been the establishment and development of lasting economic contacts. Over the last couple of years the headway made has gained momentum.
The most significant results in Hebei have been achieved in the environmental and agricultural sectors.
The province's first major water treatment plant, built by a Flemish company, was completed in Hebei's capital, Shijiazhuang. The ports of Ghent and Qinhuangdao have also started working together, especially in relation to shipments of coal.
Clusters solve problems
However, our ample experience has shown that China is not always an easy partner for our SMEs. The structural problems faced include proportions of scale, accessibility of the local market, legislation and regulations.
That is why our government believes that working with clusters represents an opportunity.
The success swiftly achieved by the Flahort cluster comprising 13 horticultural companies underlines the value and importance of such an approach.
Recently, agreement was reached with Hebei's provincial authorities to focus for the next two years on the following sectors in particular: the environment, agriculture and horticulture, logistics and distribution, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and the automotive industry.
These are spearhead sectors shared by both provinces.
In addition, there is a clear shift towards our government relinquishing its initial role of initiator and switching to a policy aimed at facilitating and supporting efforts made by East Flemish companies in China.
This makes it highly likely that our provincial government will broaden the scale of its activities in China and not concentrate solely on Hebei.
An equally important consideration in the near future will be the gradual internationalisation of the Chinese economy, which is certain to stimulate China's investment abroad.
Building on its privileged contacts, the provincial government of East Flanders intends to highlight and fully exploit its strengths in the domains of logistics, distribution and the knowledge economy.
With this in mind, it is actively participating in the China Strategy recently developed by Vice Minister-President Moerman on behalf of the Flemish government.
The provincial government's aim is to join forces and, based on a clear vision on regional marketing and positioning, collaborate closely with the City of Ghent and the respective ports, universities and higher education institutions.
Marc De Buck
Member of the Executive Board of the Provincial Council
topGhent University (UGent) is one of the major research-based universities in the Dutch-speaking region of Europe with 33479 students and 7100 staff members. It distinguishes itself as a socially committed and pluralistic university in a broad international perspective. Over 130 faculty departments - spread over 11 faculties -offer high-quality courses in every scientific discipline.
A close cooperation has been developed with various Chinese university partner institutions over the last 20 years. This cooperation, both on the level of education and research, had been further developed over the last decade. The growing importance of China on the world stage brings an abundance of academic opportunities, and UGent strives to realize them in an efficient manner. The need for an institution-wide coordination point for everything related to China within the university led to the establishment of the China Platform within the international relations Office of Ghent University in 2006. Since then the cooperation , both at the level of education and research, has increased ceaselessly and as a partner country, China holds a crucial place in the university's internationalization policy. The China Platform acts as the central point of contact for students, professors, researchers, embassies and governments, in all China-related affairs. The China Platform stimulates, facilitates and supports cooperation initiatives from UGent and from external partners.
At present, Ghent University has concluded bilateral agreements for student and staff exchange with 34 Chinese partner institutions. Even more research cooperation projects have been established, spread over several faculties and covering a wide range of scientific areas.
To better harmonize the academic, political and economic realities with regard to China, the China Platform entered into a strategic partnership with the Province of East Flanders, the Flemish-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ghent in 2008.
With a view to strengthening visibility in China, and to creating and perpetuating an extensive and permanent network of Chinese economic, institutional and academic partners, Ghent University and the Province of East Flanders joined forces and established a representation office in Beijing.
Contact details: Isabelle De Coen
Isabelle.decoen@ugent.be
Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25 - B9000 Gent
+32 09 264 70 30
www.ugent.be/china
topIn March 2009 a bilateral steering committee was installed by representatives of the Provinces of West Flanders and Zhejiang. Both provinces have privileged contacts since 1997. Cooperation mainly focuses on sustainable economic development and education.
Both Provinces have various economic trump cards, such as central location in the midst of major consumer markets and a strong SME-entrepreneurial climate.
Both Zhejiang and West Flanders are situated at the coastline and can serve as an ideal gate via their main ports (Zeebrugge and Ningbo).
Together with the Provincial Development Agency (POM), the Province of West Flanders intensifies its efforts to stimulate economic exchange and to attract foreign investments in both provinces.
Contact
Province of West Flanders
Department External Relations and European Programmes
Kristien Vandamme
Koning Leopold III-laan 41
8200 Sint-Andries / Brugge
T 050 40 33 59 | F 050 40 31 06
Email: kristien.vandamme@west-vlaanderen.be
www.west-vlaanderen.be
Provincial Development Agency
Frédéric De Vreese
Koning Leopold III-laan 66
8200 Sint-Andries / Brugge
T 050 40 73 60 | F 050 71 94 06
Email: Frederic.DeVreese@west-vlaanderen.be
www.investinwestflanders.org
topVITO (Flemish institute for technological research) is a leading independent European research and consulting centre developing sustainable technologies in the area of energy, environment, materials and earth observation.
VITO provides intelligent and qualitative solutions that increase the competitive advantage of large and small companies. It also provides objective research, studies and advice enabling industry and government to establish future policy.
VITO's research finds its application in new, efficient and cheaper production technologies, reduced energy consumption, biomaterials, healthcare, care for the environment etc., as well as in mapping and monitoring the effects of climate change.
VITO counts approximately 500 highly qualified employees and is active in
- energy saving, new sources of energy and climate policy
- environment and health
- water quality and saving
- business solutions for industry
- earth observation
- international policy issues
top
