More details on workshops & organisers:

Workshops

Expatriates and their immovable property in Belgium: an overview

Sabrina Van Roy, Head of Estate Planning Competence Centre

The day you decide to buy or maybe built a residence in Belgium, which kind of costs do you have to pay? And what taxes do you have to pay on your immovable property in Belgium? What is the registration tax? And what about the taxation of the revenue? What’s the difference between a family residence or a residence for rent? You’ll discover that the taxation of real estate has its own complex rules, which will be explained during this presentation. And what if you’ll leave Belgium and sell your previous family residence?

Of course you’ll also hear some good news during this session, such as, for example the tax advantages. Which advantages can you get when you buy a property in Belgium and how big are these advantages? And what about the different taxation regimes between the regions in Belgium?

Investment taxation for expats living in Belgium

Nico Jaeken, Estate Planner Wealth Management

Do you have a bank account and make financial investments as an expat in Belgium? We will offer you an insight into the tax consequences of those investments, depending on your fiscal status, in both Belgium and your country of citizenship. We will also help ensure you are compliant with all tax regulations that might be involved.

To marry or not to marry? Expat estate planning: the importance of the marital status and the impact of the EU succession regulation

Philipp Bollen, Director Estate Planning

To marry or not to marry? This question inevitably pops up when you meet the love of your life. Many couples still prefer marriage despite the high divorce rates.

With that in mind, it is important to choose an adjusted marriage contract, as this will have a major impact on the financial arrangements between spouses, not only during the marriage but also at the end of the marriage. Every couple will have different goals, e.g. maximal protection of the surviving spouse, special arrangements for children from a previous relationship, and much more.

The purpose of this workshop is to outline the different models of cohabitation that exist in Belgium and the fiscal and civil consequences.

How to become a successful innovative startup/scale-up in Belgium?

Koen Rombaut, Specialist Innovation Hubs BC Gent, Commercial Banking

The most important key elements to become a successful entrepreneur are finding an active partner, a community, a knowledge center, a facilitator and a connector. During this session we will explain how innovation hubs, empowered by BNP Paribas Fortis, can offer you all of these skills. A personal advisor will not only give you pure financial advice but help you also expand your network, find the financing resources and contacts you need to succeed.

Find out how to join our innovation hub community!

Organisers:

BNP Paribas Fortis is part of the BNP Paribas group, a European leader on a global scale in terms of banking and financial services. Active in 75 countries with nearly 200.000 employees, including more than 150.000 in Europe. It is the number one bank in Belgium and offers a comprehensive package of financial services for private and professional clients, wealthy individuals, corporate clients, public entities and financial institutions. Rated A+ by Standard & Poor's, BNP Paribas is one of the best rated banks in the world.

Contact Salvatore Orlando salvatore.orlando@bnpparibasfortis.com to know more about the expat services BNP Paribas Fortis provides.

British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium is unique: an international network that connects businesses, a wide spectrum of national and European policymakers, and customers and clients new and old. Our members are able to grow their personal connections within the chamber’s trusted environment that supplement and reinforce their own networks both in terms of normal business relationships and across a vast portfolio of European policy areas.

The British Chamber is built on a tradition of over 100 years of continuous service to the international business community in Belgium. Today our membership includes over 250 commercial organisations representing over 5 000 participating individuals and collectively employing over 125 000 people in Belgium and over seven million globally.

If you are interested in knowing more please contact alexandra@britishchamber.be

Vlerick Business School ONE SCHOOL, GLOBAL REACH Vlerick Business School is a triple-accredited, international business school at the heart of Europe – ranked number one in the Benelux for executive education and 15 in Europe. Each year we welcome 740 MBA and Masters students from 50 countries onto our world-class programmes in Brussels, Ghent, Leuven and Beijing. More than 8,500 executives from across the globe join our executive education and customised programmes. We have specific expertise in Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Healthcare, Energy and Financial Services. Our 21,000 alumni are active in businesses in more than 100 countries. Apart from our close ties to KU Leuven and Ghent University – and our strategic alliances with Peking University and University of Stellenbosch Business School – we’re constantly building our network of corporate partners across the world.

Community Gent The not for profit organization Community Gent is a collaboration platform between the City of Ghent and various organizations and individuals active in the sectors; culture, sports, economy, science, education and healthcare.

The focus is on four themes: diversity, digitization, social responsibility and globalization.

Community Gent has two roles:

• to increase the dialogue with the aim of connecting organizations and share knowledge.
• to act as a city challenger taking actions to improve Ghent.

Please contact Bart Vandesompele bart.vandesompele@communitygent.be if you'd like to get involved.