Location of Belgium

Belgium is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. It is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community, which constitutes about 59% of the population, and the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population, which comprises 41% of all Belgians. Additionally, there is a small group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area, and bordering Germany.

Belgium's strongly globalized economy[1] and its transport infrastructure are integrated with the rest of Europe. Its location at the heart of a highly industrialized region helped make it the world's 15th largest trading nation in 2007.[2][3] The economy is characterized by a highly productive work force, high GNP and high exports per capita.[4] Belgium's main imports are raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, and oil products. Its main exports are machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, and foodstuffs.[5]

For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in Belgium".

Largest firms

See also: List of largest companies in Belgium

This list shows firms in the Fortune Global 500, which ranks firms by total revenues reported before 31 March 2017.[6] Only the top five firms (if available) are included as a sample.

Rank Image Name 2016 Revenues (USD $M) Employees Notes
206 Anheuser-Busch InBev $45,905 206,633 The world's largest brewer with about 28% of the global market. The conglomerate has been on the list for 12 years, peaking at 196 in 2010.

Notable firms

This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.

Notable companies
     Active      State-owned      Defunct
Name Industry Sector Headquarters Founded Notes
Abelag Aviation Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 1964 Charter airline
Ablynx Health care Biotechnology Ghent[7] 2001 Biopharma
Ackermans & van Haaren Conglomerates - Antwerp 1876 Construction, real estate, financial services
AF Compressors Industrials Industrial Engineering Liege 1870 Compressors
AG Real Estate Financials Real estate holding and development Brussels 1824 Real estate
Ageas Financials Consumer finance Brussels 1990 Financing
Agfa-Gevaert Technology Computer services Mortsel 1867 Digital imaging and IT solutions
Agoria Industrials Business support services Brussels 1946 Trade association
AIM Productions Technology Computer services Hove 1994 IT
Alpro Consumer goods Food products Ghent[8] 1980 Soy products
Anheuser-Busch InBev Consumer goods Brewers Leuven 2008 Breweries, distributors; see also InBev brands
Antwerp Water Works Utilities Water Antwerp 1880 Water utility
Aquafin Utilities Water Antwerp 1990 Wastewater
ASL Airlines Belgium Industrials Delivery services Liège 1999 Cargo airline, part of ASL Airlines Ireland
Associated Weavers Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Ronse 1964 Textile
Aveve Consumer goods Farming and fishing Aalter 1890 Agriculture
Aviapartner Industrials Delivery services Brussels 1949 Ground handling
Barco Technology Computer hardware Kortrijk 1934 Display manufacturer
Base Industrials Business support services Brussels 1993 Communications and design
Beaulieu International Group Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Wielsbeke 1959 Textiles
Befimmo Financials Real estate holding and development Brussels 1995 Real estate
Bekaert Basic materials Specialty chemicals Kortrijk 1880 Metal transformations and coatings
Belgian Beer Café Consumer services Restaurants and bars Leuven 1998 Cafe/restaurant
Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries Financials Specialty finance Brussels 2001 Financial NGO
BDO Industrials Business support services Zaventem 1963 Auditors
Bpost Industrials Delivery services Brussels 2000 Postal services
Brussels Airlines Consumer services Airlines Brussels 2006 Flag carrier airline, part of Lufthansa (Germany)
Brussels Regional Investment Company Financials Specialty finance Brussels 1984 Financing
Cockerill Sambre Basic materials Iron and steel Seraing 1817 Partially Defunct in 1998
Carmeuse Basic materials General mining Louvain-la-Neuve 1860 Lime and limestone mining
Cartamundi Consumer goods Toys Turnhout 1970 Games
Cavalier Chocolate Consumer goods Food products Eeklo 1996 Chocolatier
Claeys Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Zedelgem 1906 Farm equipment, defunct 1991
Cofinimmo Financials Real estate services Brussels 1983 Real estate
Colruyt Group Consumer services Food retailers and wholesalers Halle 1925 Retail, supermarkets
Compagnie Maritime Belge Industrials Marine transportation Antwerp 1895 Shipping
Confiserie Roodthooft Consumer goods Food products Antwerp 1925 Confectioner
Copiepresse Consumer services Publishing Brussels 2000 Newspaper
Deceuninck Basic materials Commodity chemicals Hooglede 1937 PVC
Delhaize Group Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1867 Food
DEME Industrials Heavy construction Zwijndrecht 1991 Infrastructure
D'Ieteren Consumer services Specialized consumer services Brussels 1805 Automotive services
DOMO Group Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Ghent 1992 Textiles
Ecover Consumer goods Nondurable household products Malle 1979 Cleaning products
ETAP Lighting Consumer goods Building materials and fixtures Malle 1949 Lighting
Eurogentec Health care Biotechnology Seraing 1985 Biotech
EVS Broadcast Equipment Technology Telecommunications equipment Liège 1994 Broadcasting equipment
Ferranti Computer Systems Technology Computer hardware Antwerp 1976 Computers, previously a part of Ferranti (UK)
Fluxys Oil and gas Exploration and production Brussels 2001 Natural gas, subsidiary of Suez
Forrest Group Basic materials General mining Wavre 1922 Mining
Gimv Financials Equity investment instruments Brussels 1980[9] Investing
Godiva Chocolatier Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1926 Chocolatier
Group Joos Consumer services Publishing Turnhout 1935 Printing, document management
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert Industrials Diversified industrials Brussels 1902 Industrial holdings
Guylian Consumer goods Food products Sint-Niklaas 1960 Chocolatier
IMEC Technology Computer services Leuven 1984 Technology research center
Imperia Automobiles Consumer goods Automobiles Liège 1906 Automotive, revived in 2009
Innogenetics Health care Biotechnology Ghent 1985 Diagnostics, IVD
Jan De Nul Industrials Building materials and fixtures Aalst 1938 Construction, maritime maintenance
Janssen Pharmaceutica Health care Pharmaceuticals Beerse 1953 Pharma, subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson
Jonckheere Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Roeselare 1881 Buses
Katoen Natie Industrials Delivery services Antwerp 1854 Logistics
KBC Bank Financials Banks Brussels 1985 Bank
Keytrade Bank Financials Investment services Brussels 1998 Investments
Kinepolis Consumer services Recreational services Ghent 1997 Movie theaters
Larian Studios Technology Software Ghent 1996 Game developer
Libeco-Lagae Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Meulebeke 1997 Textiles
Louis Delhaize Group Consumer services Food retailers and wholesalers Charleroi 1875 Retail, supermarkets
Luciad NV Technology Computer services Leuven 1999 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Materialise NV Technology Computer services Leuven 1990 3D printing solutions
Metallo-Chimique Basic materials Nonferrous metals Beerse 1919 Mining
Mutoh Europe nv Consumer goods Consumer electronics Ostend 1990 Electronics
Namahn Industrials Business support services Brussels 1987 Design consulting
National Railway Company of Belgium Consumer services Rail transport Brussels 1926 Passenger rail
Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille (CNP) Industrials Diversified industrials Gerpinnes 1981 Industrial holding
Nyrstar Basic materials General mining Balen 2007 Mining
Option N.V. Technology Computer hardware Leuven 1986 Wireless technology
Proost Consumer services Publishing Turnhout 1913 Book publishing
Proximus Telecommunications Mobile telecommunications Brussels 1994 Mobile network, part of Proximus Group
Proximus Group Telecommunications Fixed line telecommunications Brussels 1930 State-owned telecommunications
Regional Investment Company of Wallonia Financials Investment services Liège 1979 Investments
Reynaers Aluminium Basic materials Aluminum Duffel 1965 Aluminium
RHJ International Financials Asset managers Brussels 1786 Financial services group
Ridley Bikes Consumer goods Recreational products Paal 1997 Bicycles
Saluc Consumer goods Recreational products Péruwelz 1923 Ball manufacturing
Septentrio Consumer goods Consumer electronics Leuven 2000 Electronics
Seyntex Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Oostrozebeke 1908 Textiles
Skytech Industrials Aerospace Brussels 1989 Helicopters
Sofina Financials Equity investment instruments Brussels 1898 Investing
Solvay S.A. Basic materials Specialty chemicals Brussels 1863 Industrial chemicals
Soudal Basic materials Specialty chemicals Turnhout 1966 Silicone
Sugar refinery of Tienen Consumer goods Food products Tienen 1836 Sugar
Telenet Telecommunications Fixed line telecommunications Mechelen 1996 Broadband cable
Teleroute Industrials Delivery services Brussels 1985 Freight
Thermote & Vanhalst Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Waregem 1969 Spare parts, accessories
Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 2001 Charter airline
Tibotec Health care Pharmaceuticals Mechelen 1994 Pharma, subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (US)
TiGenix Health care Biotechnology Leuven 2000 Biomedical
Truvo Industrials Business support services Antwerp 1968 Local search, directories
TUIfly Belgium Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 2003 Airline
UCB Health care Pharmaceuticals Brussels 1928 Pharma
UMedia Consumer services Broadcasting and entertainment Brussels 2010 Film studio
Umicore Basic materials General mining Brussels 1989 Materials and mining
Unibind Industrials Containers and packaging Brussels 1939 Bookbinding
Union Minière du Haut Katanga Basic materials General mining Brussels 1906 Mining, defunct 1966
Van Genechten Packaging Industrials Containers and packaging Turnhout 1833 Printing, packaging
Van Hool Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Koningshooikt 1947 Buses
Vanbreda International Financials Life insurance Antwerp 1937 Health insurance
Vanparys Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1889 Confectioner
Velleman Industrials Electronic equipment Gavere 1975 Electronics
Vinçotte Industrials Business support services Brussels 1873 Inspections
VLM Airlines Consumer services Airlines Antwerp 1992 Airline
Volvo Car Gent Consumer goods Automobiles Ghent 1965 Local subsidiary of Volvo (Sweden)
VPK Group Packaging - Oudegem 1936 -
Walloon SME finance and guarantee company Financials Specialty finance Liège 2002 Financing
Zetes Technology Technology hardware Brussels 1984 Identification technology


See also

References

  1. ^ Belgium ranked first in the KOF Globalization Index 2009 ETH Zürich (ed.). "KOF Index of Globalization". Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Rank Order – Exports". CIA – The 2008 world factbook. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008. 15[th]: Belgium $322,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
  3. ^ "Rank Order – Imports". CIA – The 2008 world factbook. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008. 15[th]: Belgium $323,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
  4. ^ "Belgian economy". Belgium. Belgian Federal Public Service (ministry) of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009. Belgium is the world leader in terms of export per capita and can justifiably call itself the 'world's largest exporter'.
  5. ^ "Belgium". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 6 June 2023.
  6. ^ DeCarlo, Scott (20 July 2017). "The Fortune 2017 Global 500". Fortune.
  7. ^ "Llama-Based Biotechnology Draws New Interest to Ablynx". Bloomberg. 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  8. ^ "Alpro - About Alpro". www.alpro.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Gimv Investeringsmaatschappij Voor Vlaanderen NV, GIMV:PAR profile - FT.com". Markets.ft.com. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2017-12-20.

External links

List of companies of Europe
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