ECONOMIC PANORAMA A GOOD REGION FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK AND FOR COMPANIES TO GROW East Belgium A GOOD REGION FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK AND FOR COMPANIES TO GROW According to the general attitude of from a very young age and is refl ected But what makes East Belgium really spe- inhabitants of East Belgium based on in the excellent level of education com- cial is its small size. The German-speaking a representative survey (1), the living pared with other countries. The proxim- community is the smallest constituent conditions in this region are excellent. ity to internationally renowned colleges state of Belgium with 77,000 inhabitants. 98 percent of citizens are satisfi ed or and universities in the direct catchment It enjoys a large degree of autonomy in extremely satisfi ed with their standard area and networking beyond borders person-related areas such as language, of living. Particular emphasis is placed also play an active role in this context. education and culture as well as in eco- in this context on personal life and As a result, inhabitants of East Belgium nomic areas. A logical consequence of above all on apartments, houses and the make up an ambitious, highly sought-af- this is that distances in East Belgium are neighbourhood. This is closely followed ter workforce. short. People know one another and get by employment as well as health and a lot done through direct contact with- well-being. These results are an indicator East Belgium lies in the heart of Europe out very much bureaucracy and often on of the close link between the population and benefi ts from excellent traffi c con- quite a personal basis. It could also be and their region as well as of a high-out- nections. Over 40 million consumers or said that the region’s small size creates put economic region. 20% of the purchasing power of the Eu- an unbeatable competitive advantage. ropean Union can be reached within just The economic landscape of East Belgium four hours by HGV. And all this is situat- In short, East Belgium has many trump is marked by a large number of burgeon- ed within a largely natural, family-friend- cards to play and is an excellent breed- ing small and medium-sized fi rms. The ly region characterised by excellent living ing ground on which to develop you and conditions are ripe for future-orientat- conditions. It is little wonder, therefore, your fi rm in the long term. The following ed, sustained economic development in that East Belgium is considered by pages present what East Belgium has on this area. This begins with multilingual- non-residents to be an attractive region offer for you. ism and a high level of cultural under- in which to live and work; it has a great standing which is promoted in children appeal for people. Happy reading! NATHALIE KLINKENBERG ISABELLE WEYKMANS Managing Director Employment Minister of WFG Ostbelgien for the German-speaking community (1) Survey on the opinions and mood of the population of East Belgium conducted by ‘forsa Politik- und Sozialforschung GmbH’ (Berlin). 1,000 people over the age of 18 responded to a telephone survey during the period from 30 June to 26 July 2018. How large are In which sectors How many employers and 80.94% East East Belgian fewer than do the majority employees are there Belgium 10 employees businesses? of employees work? altogether? THE FILM! Manufacturing industries 4,904 21.87% All our employers are Health and welfare 3,005 13.40% taken to be branches Trade and repairs 2,975 13.27% which employ staff in Education and training 2,540 11.33% East Belgium (regardless Public administration 2,341 10.44% of whether their head- 2017 security social for ce offi regional Source: 17.77% Building industry 1,484 6.62% 2,251 22,422 quarters are based). The between employers employees number of employees Other economic services 1,364 6.08% 10 and 99 corresponds to the 1.29% Transport and warehousing 811 3.62% employees Hotel and restaurant industry 667 2.97% number of jobs in these more than www.wfg.be/standort-ostbelgien/ Personal services 536 2.39% branches. 2017 Sozialsicherheit für Landesamt Source: 100 employees 2018 Gemeinschaft Deutschsprachigen der Arbeitsamt Source: 2 ECONOMIC PANORAMA of East Belgium 3 „Multilingualism is considered East Belgium normal in East Belgium.“ According to Peter Gijbels, who moved to East Belgium two and a half years ago BUILDING BRIDGES where he became Human Resources Manager with AstenJohnson, “More than 95 percent of our products are intended for export markets. We are therefore totally dependent on multilingual staff. We have the advantage, however, of being able to THROUGH MULTILINGUALISM recruit multilingual staff easily in East Belgium and the surrounding area and that is a real luxury.” East Belgium is the tiny area of Belgium on the border with AT LEAST BILINGUAL option. The region is small and people Germany, the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxem- Even the production workers at Asten- are dependent on their neighbours in bourg (approximately 77,000 inhabitants, 854 km²) with a high Johnson are generally at least bilingual. Wallonia, Germany and the Netherlands. degree of self-determination and where German is not only “German has always been the working This multilingualism is also promoted in a the language of business, education and the courts but also language. Our employees therefore need targeted manner however. Children are the native language of the majority of the population. to be conversant in German at least to a introduced to their fi rst foreign language level which enables them to understand through play at kindergarten and this is The region is a meeting point of two cultures: Germanic and Ro- work orders, safety instructions and a real trump card which is worth holding manic. The East Belgians are held in high esteem for their “Prus- product descriptions. German speakers onto. sian” zeal on the one hand and their French ‘Savoir Vivre’ on the in East Belgium generally speak French other. They have something of both cultures and this helps to as well and are happy to help their WORKING INTERNATIONALLY build bridges and create networks. French-speaking colleagues if neces- AND EXPERIENCING NATURE The border sary,” acknowledges Gijbels. People fi nd What motivated Peter Gijbels to move All this begins with the multilingual approach to education at triangle in Kelmis that quite normal here but this has not from Hamont (Belgium) 110 km away to a very early age. Children are introduced to their fi rst foreign – an intersection always been the case everywhere. East Belgium? “The possibility of working of cultures and language in the form of play at kindergarten (which is free in languages in an internationally active fi rm and living Belgium and part of the school system). The second language OPENNESS TO CULTURES in a uniquely beautiful, largely natural re- PETER GIJBELS, photo: Frans Berkelaar Human Resources Manager is built on at primary school followed by English and Dutch at AND LANGUAGES gion. I also love the mentality: the people with AstenJohnson in Kettenis, secondary school. He is convinced that the border loca- are extremely entrepreneurial and willing is impressed by the multilingualism tion and associated openness to other to work but at the same time relaxed and and mentality of East Belgians An increasing number of schools offer bilingual classes in which cultures and languages is what makes open in their dealings. We Limburgers are photo: GrenzEcho / David Hagemann German and French are taught at the same time and in equal all this possible. People have no other not very different from this.” measure by native speakers from kindergarten through to gra- duation from high school. AstenJohnson is a global leader in the manufacturing of coverings and NL screening for the paper and non-woven fabric industry. The fi rm (founded in 1885) has been based since the end of the 20th century in its original lo- cation in Kettenis (Eupen). In 1999, it merged with the Canadian / American fi rm Johnson to consolidate and expand its worldwide presence. The fi rm B employs 175 people in East Belgium. East Belgian D L D B East Belgian German/East Belgium F How do you say…? Euregio Maas-Rhein L Greater region of SaarLorLux ✔ 11,000 km² ✔ 65,400 km² ✔ 4 m inhabitants ✔ 11 m inhabitants ✔ 5 regions: Belgian Limburg, Dutch ✔ 6 regions: Grand Duchy of German: German: German: German: German: German: Limburg, Region of Aachen, Luxemburg, Lothringen, Saarland, stilles Wasser der Lastwagen der Bonbon Province of Lüttich (Liège), East Rhineland Palatinate, Region of der Kugelschreiberder Gebrauchtwagender Terminkalender Belgium Wallonia, East Belgium ✔ Maas-Rhein Euregio ✔ SaarLorLux 3 languages: Dutch, French, languages: French, Luxemburgish, East Belgian: East Belgian: East Belgian: East Belgian: East Belgian: East Belgian: German German plattes Wasser der Bic die Okkasion das Agenda der Camion die Schick 4 ECONOMIC PANORAMA of East Belgium 5 More opportunities in the employment market thanks to dual diplomas Thanks to different agreements with the Chambers of Crafts in Aachen and Trier, automotive mechatronics engineers, hairdressers, retailers and cabinet makers in East Belgium automatically obtain a German professional licence in addition to the Belgian diploma with just a single journeyman’s examination. This increases the value of the diploma and the professional experience in a neighbouring country promotes the independence of trainees as well as the mobility in the employment market. This offers real opportunities for young people and fi rms in East Belgium. The dual diploma also promotes mobility in the employment market. Results of 2015 PISA study? EAST BELGIUM Natural sciences: 505 Points Mathematics: 502 Points Reading: 501 Points AVERAGE OF OECD COUNTRIES Natural sciences: 493 Points East Belgium Mathematics: 490 Points OECD BELGIUM EAST OECD BELGIUM EAST OECD BELGIUM EAST Reading: 493 Points EDUCATION AND 2015 OECD Source: Natural sciences Mathematics Reading TRAINING Number of schools in When King Philippe paid a visit to East Belgium in the autumn of 2015, he gave his full attention to dual education.