Belgium is a very open economy and offers a solid environment for direct foreign investment. There is no discrimination between domestic and foreign companies or between branches and subsidiaries. This means that foreign entities have the same legal obligations as domestic entities but can also benefit from all the rights accorded to domestic entities. 

• Prior authorisation is not required for payments and transfers within Belgium or to and from foreign countries. There are fundamentally no foreign exchange restrictions on the transfer of capital or profits. 
• Both domestic and foreign entities have the right to sell, buy interests in or establish business enterprises. 
• Joint ventures and partnerships are open to foreign investors, except in certain professions e.g. doctors and lawyers. 
• Non-EU goods can be stored in customs warehouses without payment of custom duties or VAT.

Although delays are frequently encountered, the independent courts system is considered effective in enforcing intellectual property rights and all other civil or economic rights.

This attractive investment climate is leveraged by specific investment incentives granted by the various federal and regional governments, resulting in a business-friendly environment. The non-discrimination rule also applies in this aspect. Investment incentives fall into three distinct categories: financial, fiscal and labour measures.

The regions have sole responsibility for granting financial incentives. The responsible authority and the eligibility criteria, the available incentive programmes and the level of assistance are consequently determined by the company’s location. Due to the federal structure of Belgium and the governing schemes of the European Union, potential aid can differ significantly from one region to another. Criteria for receiving financial aid include the number of jobs created, the increased value-added per job, the technology content of the project and its attractiveness for the region. Financial aid can currently add up to 21% of the eligible investment in some regions.

A number of employment incentives are available, in general managed by the regions. They all grant businesses a reduction in employer social security contributions depending on criteria such as age and whether the worker was unemployed in the period prior to recruitment. Training incentives in the form of organisational and financial support are also offered by the regional authorities.