Belgium is member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is notable for its highly productive workforce and high gross national product (GNP).

The services sector is the biggest contributor to Belgium’s economy, with the great majority of the country’s workforce employed in private or public services. Manufacturing and construction are the next-largest employers. Though coal mining was a major industry in the last century, it employs only a tiny percentage of Belgium’s workforce today. 

High exports per capita are a key characteristic of the Belgian economy. Major exports include machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, machinery, plastics, food products, textile products, and metal and metal products.

One of Belgium’s leading multinationals is insurance company Ageas, headquartered in Brussels. The US is the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Belgium, and US companies, including Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Ford, McDonald’s and ManpowerGroup, are among the country’s biggest employers.

This section features the latest news, articles, tools and resources to help you achieve your business objectives and goals. With contributions from specialists across the global mobility and relocation industry and the latest perspectives from regional conferences, we analyse key trends influencing Belgium’s relocation and global mobility scene. 

We investigate the latest trends in inbound, outbound and domestic relocation – from key relocation destinations and industry sectors to immigration and talent management – as well as the full range of employee and family support topics, including residential property, serviced apartments, and education and international schools.

HR and global managers with international assignees will find practical advice and information. There’s also plenty of support for those setting up a business or a company office in Belgium. 

See also our Enterprise and Mobility Industry sections. For details of suppliers of international assignment and recruitment services, as well as destination services providers and relocation management companies that support businesses on the move, see our Directory. Keep informed by subscribing to our newsletters and other publications, and look out for details of our latest study tours and fact-finding missions to destinations across Europe.