most from the European integration process and the establishment of the single European market. Brussels is the capital of the "new Europe", and the single European market gives Belgium the opportunity to use all the comparative advantages that it draws from its geographic location. Besides, Belgium is the European headquarters for multinational corporations and such organizations as NATO, SHAPE, and the WEU. These are just a few of the reasons why Belgium is one of the most relevant markets in the EU for foreign companies wishing to enter and position themselves in the EU market. From a cultural point of view, Belgium is definitely the most important test market in the European Union, in part because of its cultural duality, enabling the exporter to experience both the German and French ways of doing business. This sales and marketing experience prove invaluable for future exporting to the rest of the EU. It is considered that if a product can be successfully launched in Belgium, it has a good chance of being successful in other EU countries. This is an important thing to be considered by the Bulgarian companies who have decided to export. Besides, Belgium's transportation system is one of the best in Europe. It is easily accessible by air, sea, rail and inland motorways. With respect to the office furniture market in Europe, Belgium occupies an important position. 45-50% of the Belgian office furntiture is imported, and the expected annual growth rate is 4-5%. Further, Belgium has an estremely open import policy and there is little legislation imposed on the office furniture market. BELGIAN MARKET DEMAND General Facts According to the statistics the local production of office furniture in Belgium represents approximately 50-55% of the total market and it is almost entirely in the hands of Belgian owned companies. However, many foreign companies are also active on the Belgian market. About 10-12% of the total of the local production a...
