Excerpted from the Belgium Career Guide
Belgium is located in the very center of Europe, and its capital city, Brussels, has attracted numerous trade associations, international business groups and other professional organizations to the country. More than 2,000 international companies are located in Brussels, and more than 200,000 non-Belgian EU citizens work in Brussels.
Business Organizations
European Women’s Management Development (EWMD)
http://www.ewmd.org/ (English)
Since 1984, EWMD has been working to improve the quality of management with respect to diverse sectors of the population throughout Europe. The Belgian branch prides itself on attracting “professional women who have a diversified international cultural background and professional experience.” The organization offers networking opportunities among a culturally and professionally diverse group.
European Women’s Management Development
Mainzer Str. 52
D-65185 Wiesbaden
Germany
Email: international-office@ewmd.org
Industry Organizations and Councils
Vlaams Economisch Verbond
Flemish Economic Alliance
http://www.voka.be vev/ (Dutch)
Vlaams Economisch Verbond, called Voka, is a Belgian trade organization. This Flemish network of enterprises was formed by the Flemish Economic Covenant and Voka-Chambers of Commerce. This network of enterprises represents more than 16,000 companies, about 60 percent of private employment in Flanders and 24 economic sectors.
Vlaams Economisch Verbond
Brouwersvliet 5 bus 4
B-2000 Antwerpen
Tel: 03 202 44 00
Fax: 03 233 76 60
Email: info@voka.be
Vlaams Economisch Verbond
Zinnerstraat 1
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: 02 503 03 15
Fax: 02 514 25 73
Email: info@voka.be
Networking Groups
Antwerp British and International Women
http://www.abiw.org/ (English)
This organization was founded to provide a center for expatriates to participate in social, cultural and charitable activities. English-speaking women of all nationalities are welcome in this organization. Besides British expatriates, it currently has members from America, Belgium, Canada, Holland, Finland, Greece, India, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Taiwan.
Chambers of Commerce
Fédération Nationale des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de Belgique (CCI)
http://www.cci.be/ (English, French, Dutch)
Belgium has 36 chambers that form the CCI (Fédération Nationale des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de Belgique). These chambers represent more than 30,000 Belgian companies. There are also two regional umbrella organizations: Vereniging van Vlaamse Kamers voor Handel en Nijverheid for Flanders, which has 14 chambers, and the Association des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de Wallonie for Wallonia, which has 11 chambers. These organizations are the contact point for the regional governments. The other components of the Federation Nationale are the 49 Belgian chambers abroad. The federation coordinates and supports the Belgian chambers and defends the interests of the chambers with national and European organizations. The federation promotes companies and trade exchanges without discrimination by sector or size of company at the national and international level.
Fédération Nationale des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de Belgique
Avenue Louise 500
B - 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 (2) 2090550
Fax: +32 (2) 2090568
Email: fedcci@cci.be
Telephone Directories
Golden Pages Online (Yellow Pages)
http://www.goldenpages.be/ (Dutch, French, English)
The Golden Pages Online is searchable by name or company name, province, keyword and postal code. There is a CD-ROM available for purchase that includes 450,000 Belgian companies and professionals.
Major Trade Publications
Laatste Nieuws
http://www.hln.be
This is Belgium’s most popular newspaper, with more than one million readers daily. The paper includes general news in Flemish. It was founded in 1888 in Brussels as the Flemish Liberal Newspaper.
Het laatste nieuws
Brusselse Steenweg 347
1730 Asse
Tel: +32 2 4542211
This is just a short sample of what you’ll find in over 100 pages of information in the Belgium Guide.
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