The Hindu Business Line : Belgium's Flanders region woos Indian SMEs

Coimbatore June 10 By setting up a joint venture business/industry in Belgium's northern federal state of Flanders, an area dominated by small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs from India could get the benefit of pitching shop in Europe's manufacturing hub.

This is because 60 per cent of Europe's purchasing power lies within 600 km radius of Brussels, which is the also the capital of Flanders, according to Mr Jayant Nadiger, Trade Commissioner of Flanders.

Speaking on behalf of the Flanders Investment and Trade, at an interactive meet organised under the aegis of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, here, Mr Nadiger said Flanders also gave easy market access to the units. This is because of its proximity to over 200 European distribution centres lying in the `golden banana' southern European destinations that account for 75 per cent of Europe's gross domestic product.

Flanders Investment and Trade is the Government of Flanders' international trade promotion body.

The multiple European language knowledge among workers, 10-hour working shift and permission for work on week-ends are among the favourable labour market climate prevailing in Belgium, where setting up companies by non-Belgians would be a smooth affair, he assured.

"We welcome Indian SMEs connected with engineering/automotives to set up their units in Belgium which will provide a platform for starting their ventures either with buyback or no buyback,'' Mr Nadiger told the members of the chamber.

Antwerp port

Mr Raj Khalid, whole-time Indian representative for the Antwerp port in Belgium, said the port infrastructure spread along the 1,400 hectare port area with 150-km length berths, 1,113-km railway and 400-km road length would offer quick cargo dispatches from the port to the European hinterland markets.