BRUSSELS – The number of new small business created in Belgium increased by almost ten percent last year compared to 2003.

Belgian small business lobby Unizo said at a press conference on Wednesday that 52, 395 new companies were created in the country last year, a rise of 9.83 percent compared to 2003.

Unizo said the increase represents the biggest rise in small business creations for ten years.

The lobby argued recent moves to relax Belgium’s rules on approving land to be used for shopping centres had helped to contribute to the rise in new business creations.

It called on the government to simplify the legislation even further.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news