BELGIAN ECONOMIC MISSION to the USA (Seattle) and CANADA (Vancouver)

Headed by H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium

8/14 March 2008


OFFICIALS & PUBLIC SECTOR

FEDERAL LEVEL

Belgian Diplomatic Representations

Belgian Embassy in Washington / HE Dominicus Struye de Swielande, Ambassador Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles / HE Ronald De Langhe, Consul General Belgian Embassy in Ottawa / HE Jean Lint, Ambassador Consulate of Belgium in Toronto / HE Christine Habig, Consul

Federal Government

HE Karel DE GUCHT, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Read more) Office Mrs Sofie GEEROMS, Deputy Director Mr Laurent DE MEESTER, Counsellor • Egmont I Rue des Petits Carmes 15 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 501 82 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 511 63 85 Emails: kab.bz@diplobel.fed.be / info@diplobel.fed.be Web: www.diplomatie.be

HE François-Xavier de DONNEA, Minister of State (Read more) • Maison des Parlementaires Rue de Louvain 21 B - 1008 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 549 85 07 Fax: + 32 2 / 549 91 51 Email: francoisdedonnea@lachambre.be Web: www.dedonnea.irisnet.be

Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation Mr Henk MAHIEU, Counsellor General Mr Thibaut de KERCHOVE, Expert Direction Economic Interest The FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation manages Belgium's foreign relations. Belgium's Foreign Affairs network comprises 130 embassies, consulates and representations both at home and abroad. As an organisation with solid and long-standing experience in foreign relations, the FPS channels its expertise into actions geared towards attaining the following objectives: defending Belgian interest abroad; promoting a stable, fair, thriving world community based on solidarity; combating poverty around the world by building up high-quality development cooperation. • Egmont I Rue des Petits Carmes 15 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 501 81 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 501 81 70 Email: info@diplobel.fed.be Web: www.diplomatie.be

Federal Public Service Finance - Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments Mr Albert WOLFS, International Tax Expert Within the Federal Public Service Finance a team of experts informs and assists foreign investors and investors already established in Belgium on tax matters. The Fiscal Department for Foreign Investments was created in 1997 and it operates under the direct authority of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Belgian Federal Public Service Finance. This service of the FPS Finance guides and informs the foreign investor on tax matters, and assists him in his contacts with the tax authorities. The service works: - free on charge on a flexible, non-bureaucratic and investor oriented basis; - everything disclosed to its officials remains strictly confidential, as they are subject to a legal and strict obligation of professional secrecy; - For tax information with regard to foreign investments in Belgium, please get in touch with us (address below). • Maria-Theresiastraat 1-3/4 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 579 38 66 Fax: + 32 2 / 579 51 12 Emails: taxinvest@minfin.fed.be / albert.wolfs@minfin.fed.be Web: www.fiscus.fgov.be

Federal Public Service - Information & Communication Technology (Fedict) Mr Frank LEYMAN, Manager International Relations Fedict is the public service of the Minister of ICT, which is responsible for Belgium’s e-Government strategy. - Fedict has developed and continues to develop the IT infrastructure aimed at enabling the government to improve the services it provides. E.g.: the federal portal, the federal network (FEDMAN) and access to the crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE); - Fedict supports the government’s ICT departments. The services provided by Fedict range from giving advice about drafting Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) and legal advice in general, to making user management available free of charge to departments for their own applications; - Finally, Fedict contributes towards developing computerization for society in general by removing barriers relating to the use of PC’s and the internet. The programmes undertaken in this context include campaigns such as "internet for all", "saferchat" for young people and the "PC-phobia" campaign. • Maria-Theresiastraat 3/1 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 212 96 00 Fax: + 32 2 / 212 96 99 Emails: info@fedict.belgique.be / frank.leyman@fedict.be Web: www.fedict.be

REGIONAL LEVEL

Government of Flanders

HE Patricia CEYSENS, Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation & Foreign Trade (Read more) Office Mr Miguel CHEVALIER, Spokesman Mr Tim VANDENPUT, Advisor Science & Innovation Flanders is a region with legislative powers, with its own parliament and its own government. It has broad domestic and foreign powers. For example, the Government of Flanders has competence in the field of education, the environment, public works, the economy, sports and culture, tourism, welfare policy, housing, health care, town and country planning, foreign trade and investment and scientific research. In all other areas there is a strong co-operation and co-ordination with the federal Belgian authorities. Flanders not only conducts an autonomous domestic policy but it also has a great deal of autonomy in its dealings with foreign partners. The Government of Flanders can conclude agreements and treaties with other countries and regions in each domain for which it has domestic powers. It has also exclusive competence for its trade and investment promotion with an elaborate network abroad. • Martelaarsplein 7 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 552 61 00 Fax: + 32 2 / 552 61 01 Email: kabinet.ceysens@vlaanderen.be Web: www.patriciaceysens.be

Flanders Investment and Trade - FIT Mr Dirk VAN STEERTEGHEM, Head of Department International Business Development Mrs Catherine VAN RANSBEECK, Area Manager Mrs Greta VAN GIJSEGHEM, Assistant Area Manager The Flanders Investment & Trade Agency (FIT) promotes sustainable international business, in the interest of both Flanders-based companies and overseas enterprises. Whatever sector you are involved in, Flanders Investment & Trade will help you establish contact with the Flemish companies you are looking for. This includes not only products or services you may be sourcing, but also various types of business relationships, from joint ventures to technology transfers. At another level Flanders Investment & Trade enhances Flanders’ position as the gateway to Europe for inward investors. The agency identifies, informs, advises and supports overseas enterprises by establishing production and research facilities, contact centres, headquarters, logistics operations and the like in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Do visit our website and discover our worldwide network. • Gaucheretstraat 90 B - 1030 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 504 87 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 504 88 99 Email: info@fitagency.com Web: www.flanderstrade.org

Walloon Region

HE Jean-Claude MARCOURT, Walloon Minister of Economy, Employment, Foreign Trade and Heritage (Read more) Cabinet Mr Jean-Louis ROLLÉ, Advisor Mr Julien COMPERE, Advisor Mrs Nathalie LAFONTAINE, Press Advisor Within the context of the Belgian federal State, the Walloon Region has sovereign legislative powers, with its own Parliament and Government. It has broad domestic competences in important fields like Environment, Agriculture, Transport, Economic policy, Training and Employment policy, regional aspects of the Social policy and Health care policy, Housing, Scientific research, organisation and supervision of the local authorities,... The Government of the Walloon Region not only conducts domestic policy, but can also conclude international agreements and treaties with other regions and countries in each domain for which it has domestic powers. The Walloon Region has its own competences in External relations and is responsible for Foreign Trade and Investment promotion. • Place des Célestines 1 B - 5000 Namur Tel.: + 32 81 / 23 41 11 Fax: + 32 81 / 23 41 22 Email: jeanclaude.marcourt@gov.wallonie.be Web: www.marcourt.wallonie.be

Walloon Region / International Relations Department - DRI Mr Jean-Marie WAUTHIER, Chief Engineer - Director The Wallonia International Relations Department (DRI) is responsible for all international matters related to the competencies devoluted to the Walloon Region of Belgium (notably economic and employment development and scientific innovation). The environmental desk within the Wallonia International Relations Department is involved in the following activities: • Bilateral cooperation in matters such as environment, sustainable development and climate changes. We built projects with more than 50 regions or countries in the world. We maintain very close cooperation with some African French speaking countries within the framework of the International Francophone Agency; • Multilateral cooperation: we are a member of very effective "environmental" networks such as ENCORE, the Environment Conference of the Regions of Europe, and NRG4SD, the network of regional governments for sustainable development; • International trade: the environmental desk promotes worldwide the Wallonia-based businesses active in the environmental sector. • Place Sainctelette 2 B - 1080 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 421 82 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 421 87 87 Email: jm.wauthier@mrw.wallonie.be Web: www.wbri.be

Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency - AWEX Mr Christian VERDIN, Director Mr Francis KANIA, North America Area Coordinator Mr Jean-Pierre MARCELLE, Head of North American Investments / Head of Marketing & Communications Mr Pierre LECLERCQ, Business Development US Investments Mr Ashley LYON, Investment Expert Aeronautics & Space The Wallonia ForeignTrade and Investment Agency (AWEX) is the Wallonia Region of Belgium’s government agency in charge of foreign trade promotion and foreign investment attraction. The agency has a worldwide network of 105 Economic and Trade Attachés. AWEX has been certified ISO 9001 since April 2002. - As a foreign trade agency, AWEX carries out a mission of promotion and information for the benefit of both Wallonia and the foreign business community. AWEX assists buyers, decision-makers, importers and foreign prospects by providing information on Wallonia’s export potential. As an export partner for Wallonia-based companies, Awex offers a wide range of export-oriented services and activities (market surveys, organization of trade missions, trade show pavilions, export incentives, etc.). - As a foreign investment agency, AWEX – via its Office for Foreign Investors (OFI) – has an overall responsibility for the attraction of foreign investment in Wallonia. This includes seeking out and providing information to potential foreign investors. The Agency also offers a pro-active follow-up service to investors already established in Wallonia. • Foreign Trade Place Sainctelette 2 B - 1080 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 421 82 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 421 87 87 Emails: c.verdin@awex.be / f.kania@awex.be Web: www.wallonia-export.be • Investments Avenue Materne 115-117 B - 5100 Jambes Tel.: + 32 81 / 33 28 65 Fax: + 32 81 / 33 28 79 Emails: jpmarcelle@investinwallonia.be / pleclercq@investinwallonia.be / alyon@investinwallonia.be Web: www.investinwallonia.be

Brussels-Capital Region

Foreign Trade Department of the Brussels-Capital Region - BRUSSELS EXPORT Mrs Isabelle LAVERGE, Attaché Brussels Export - the Foreign Trade Department of the Brussels-Capital Region - is a public body, which aims to enhance and improve the export capacity of Brussels companies.To develop the export potential of Brussels companies, the Foreign Trade Department: - provides information about foreign markets to Brussels companies, through its network of economic and trade attachés; - organizes trade missions and group stands of international exhibitions; - supports the prospect initiatives of Brussels companies through financial incentives. The FT Department of the Brussels-Capital Region also guides and helps foreign companies interested in Brussels products, services and techniques, to make the right contacts meeting their demands and to find business partners in the Brussels Region. • Avenue Louise 500/4 B - 1050 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 800 40 00 Fax: + 32 2 / 800 40 01 Email: infos@brussels-export.irisnet.be Web: www.brussels-export.be

The Brussels Enterprise Agency - BEA Mr Stefan ECTOR, Chairman The Brussels Enterprise Agency - BEA is the central one-stop shop set up by the regional authorities to provide advice and consulting services to Brussels-based companies and to companies wishing to set up a business in Brussels. The BEA provides assistance to foreign investors on such crucial matters as finding the ideal location to set up a business, addressing legal issues and determining if public grants are available. The BEA’s in-house experts, as well as their networks of contacts in the region, can provide answers to all your questions regarding the creation or development of an enterprise in the Brussels-Capital Region. The agency also can put you in contact with key individuals at all the relevant institutions, associations and professional organisations that can aid in assuring that your enterprise is both successful and profitable. • Tour & Taxis Avenue du Port 86c/211 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 422 00 20 Fax: + 32 2 / 422 00 43 Email: info@bea.irisnet.be Web: www.bea.irisnet.be / www.investinbrussels.com

BFTA / Coordination of the mission

Belgian Foreign Trade Agency Mr Michel GOVAERTS Vice President of the Board Mrs Fabienne L’HOOST, Deputy Director General Mrs Rosemary DONCK, Attaché - Coordinator of the Mission Mrs Lucette FLAMAND-FRANCOIS, Assistant The Belgian Foreign Trade Agency is a public body with a legal status. It was set up through the Co-operation Agreement concluded between the Belgian federal government and the three Belgian regional governments on May 24th, 2002. The Agency is run by a Board of Directors and its Honorary President is His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium. The Agency's main tasks are defined as follows in the Co-operation Agreement : * Organisation of joint economic missions; * Collecting, organising and circulating information, studies and documentation on external markets on behalf of the regional export promotion organisations. The regional export organisations (Flanders Investment & Trade, Walloon Export & Foreign Investment Agency & Brussels Export) are the single contact point for Belgian exporting companies. • Rue Montoyer 3 B - 1000 Brussels Tel.: + 32 2 / 206 35 11 Fax: + 32 2 / 203 18 12 Email: info@abh-ace.org Web: www.abh-ace.org