Belgium remained attractive in 2009. - According to the seventh edition of the annual Barometer of Belgian Attractiveness, published today by Ernst & Young, Belgium remained attractive to foreign investors in 2009. In comparison to 2008 the number of foreign investments in Belgium rose from 142 to 146. Flanders still attracts most investment - 64 investments (43.9%), Wallonia - 57 (39%) and finally Brussels - 25 (17.1%). One hundred of these investments are totally new projects, emphasises Ernst & Young. Belgium's attractiveness for foreign investors rose in 2009 and may be related to the period of (relative) political and administrative calm, which was experienced after two years of political turmoil in 2007-2008. The key question now is will investors once again turn their backs on Belgium as it finds itself back in turbulent Community waters? The leading foreign investor is still the US with 33 projects. Japan is also active in the investment field with 12 investments. These two countries are followed by European investors interested in Belgium, particularly the British (16 investments), the French (14) and the Dutch (9). The share of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in the direct foreign investments in Belgium continues to fall alarmingly. In 2008 these countries had a 7% share in all direct foreign investments. This year it is scarcely 4%. Ernst & Young also points out that Western Europe again lost its lead in terms of the most attractive investment regions in the world, to China in 2009. With an attractiveness score of 39%, the country has improved its previous results by no less than six points, as opposed to 30% obtained by Western Europe, which effectively loses two points. The top three includes countries from Central and Eastern Europe, which have certainly dropped compared to their positions in previous years (from 42% to 24%). Investors underlined that in the future they will choose China, India, Central and Eastern Europe to locate their projects instead of Western Europe, which is only in fifth place in the future attractiveness rating, behind Brazil. (I.L./transl.fl)