BRUSSELS – The number of new businesses created in Belgium went up last year for the first time since 2000, De Standaard newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the paper, 48,240 new firms were created in 2003. The figure represents a 4 percent increase compared to 2002.

The figures are likely to be greeted warmly by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who recently summoned his entire cabinet to a weekend brainstorming session in a Walloon chateau to discuss ways of boosting Belgium’s flagging economy.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news