IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL: The quality of life in Belgium is high. Belgium is among the top twenty countries in the world in terms of per capita income, and most Belgians own their own home. The social security system is one of the best in the world and provides for a decent life even for most deprived citizens. Education from kindergarten through high school is free of charge and only a small registration fee is charged every year for university level studies. As a rule, three to four languages are taught all through high school, and many Belgians are fluent in three languages. Nearly everyone involved in business speaks English, usually fluently. There are three language communities in Belgium: The Flemish Community, consisting of the population living in Flanders; the French Community, consisting of the population of Wallonia, and a small German-speaking Community of some 66,000 inhabitants in the far eastern part of the country. One of the major strengths of Belgium is, first and foremost, its significant reserve of skilled personnel. Belgian labor is well trained, generally multilingual, and, in spite of a high level of unionization, enjoys good labor relations and a well-earned reputation for very high productivity. Belgians also have the second highest savings rate in the world, surpassed only by the Japanese. This provides a ready source of capital for consumption and expenditure and a low level of personal debt. As noted in the commercial overview, Belgians are open to new ideas, products, and services. They value American technology and regard U.S. products as being of high quality. Still, given the vast array of foreign products available in Belgium, Belgians will shop for value at affordable prices. Markups in Belgium are generally several times the U.S. wholesale price, making consumer goods expensive by comparison to U.S. prices. As a result of our involvement in WWs I and II, Belgians have a very positive view of Americans. Each Memorial Day, many hundreds of Belgians attend ceremonies at several sites in Belgium. Belgians are also relatively frank and open in business discussions, making it easy for Americans to do business here and in a manner similar to doing business at home. Belgium offers an extraordinary media diversity with the availability of the broadest selection of television channels in Europe. TV owners currently have access to programs broadcast from 7 different countries in Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. CNN is also available on cable. The country is blessed with an intense and varied cultural life and is highly regarded for its tolerance of foreign goods and persons, and its overall life style and family-oriented values system. LIST OF BELGIAN HOLIDAYS - 1995 January 2 Observed for January 1 - New Year April 17 Easter Monday May 1 Belgian Labor Day May 25 Ascension Day June 5 Whit Monday July 21 Belgian Independence Day August 15 Assumption Day November 1 All Saints Day November 10 Observed for November 11 - Veterans Day December 25 Christmas