Face to face with a reality Investing and operating in Liege
We would be happy to invite you for a tour of Liege. Because nothing is better than a personal look. May we first introduce ourselves by sending you some data on us? Discover business opportunities, get into the heart of the figures and the reality they stand for.
A question of location
The province of Liege has 1,015,007 inhabitants. It borders on to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. This location is not only a direct gate to the European market, it also creates a natural and spontaneous European outlook. In the Province itself two official languages are spoken: French and German. Close economic, cultural and political ties have been fostered with the neighboring countries, giving birth to a local Euregional entity. Moreover, foreigners living in Liege make up 12.6% of the population, providing a workforce of native speakers: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, etc.Enhancing this geographical aspect, a developped transportation network has been built up, connecting South to North and East to West by air, waterways, railroads and highways. Thanks to added intermodal platforms, reach your customers very, very rapidly.
Roughly 143 million tons of goods were transported in 1994, i.e. 12% of Belgium’s total. Nearly 850 carriers companies are located in the province, including third-party logistic service providers such as ABX, TNT, Ziegler, Frans Maas, TTS, Weerts and Galliker. Major fields of activities include food, electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, together with steel and metal products.
- Liege Airport geared to air cargo : Total transfer of goods: 300,000 tons a year
- Brussels International airport: at 95 Km/59 miles
- Cologne Airport: at 123 Km/77 miles
- River port : Third inland port in Europe, 21.5 million tons of goods handled in 1996.
Sites and workforce issues
Business and specific complexes, industrial sites39 sites managed by SPI+, the local economic development agency, are fully equipped with roads, sewers, electricity and telecommunications. Some of them offer specific assets, such as rail and river connections, ISDN network, and so on.
The scientific park houses 40 high tech companies and research centers in a green environment. Major specializations are the space & aeronautic industry and research, software production and research, along with biotechnology; three sectors renowned for their success on world market.
Another high tech area geared to motor engineering research and production is located alongside the Formula 1 racing track of Spa-Francorchamps.
The Teleparc#&174; has been set up to welcome companies with extensive telecommunication needs. Shared-cost double-routed infrastructure, the possibility of a back-up, a special investor priority clause, are some of its specialties.
As for Liege Logistics, this site has been set aside specifically to handle distribution activities. Located next to the airport, it consists of an intermodal platform connecting air, highway and railroad. It is itself connected to the other intermodal platforms, linking all of the four transportation networks together.
Workforce
When interviewed about the Liege's major business characteristics one out of five managers of foreign companies spontaneously quoted the quality of the labor force.
They are aware of its high skills and motivation, ensured by an excellent educational system, making it possible to design and export high added value products on a worldwide scale. Above all the Liege worker is appreciated for the dynamism, the multilingualism as well as the experience he shows everyday. The local social climate is considered to be similar to the European one, but with a very low rate of absenteeism.
A matter of price
Have a look at the sites, buildings, labor and living costs.
Sites
Buildings and offices
Rental costs of industrial buildings are from 10 to 60% lower than in other locations in Belgium such as Antwerp and Brussels.Medium Quality Budgets
Labor
As an example, blue collar workers cost 15% below the national average.
Living
Liege is one of the cheapest major cities in Belgium.
Incentives
Undoubtedly incentives are also of utmost importance. In the Liege area, investments made and carried out between January 1,1997 and June 30, 1999 are granted a fixed rate of 30% on the approved amount.The economic environment
The economic environment is dominated by the tertiary sector. Transportation and communication, trade and repair work, hotels and catering, banking and insurance along with other market and non-market services represent 68% of the added value created in the province. Manufacturing products represent 20% of the GDP. Within this industry, branches making up the highest share of it are the following:
- Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
- Metal products, machinery and electronical goods
- Food, beverages and tobacco
- Paper and printing
- Food and beverages
- Biotechnology
- Space industry & research, aerospace industry
- Research in plastics, composite and steel construction
- Call center activities, telecommunication technologies
To be noted: Business-University Interface provides expertise, advice as well as ultra-sophisticated equipment to support projects for private companies requiring extremely specialized knowledge.
Subcontractors
Main fields of proficiency: metallurgy, metal industry, mechanics, electronics, plastics, rubber, glass, textiles, paper and printing.
Get into the very heart of it. Ask for the Liege area investment guide and in-depth information. Operating licenses, employment and stay permits, labor regulations, business services, sites, prices, and much more. The guide will be available free of charge at SPI+ from the end of June on.
E-mail: info@spi.be
