A boost for the economy

Fewer traffic jams means time savings for the self-employed and businesses. But the positive effects of SmartMove go far beyond that. Because both working and doing business in Brussels will become much more attractive.

In short

Time is money, especially in the business world. But the benefits of SmartMove go much further.

Employees get to work more easily and daytime travel takes less time.
Punctuality improves, schedules are better respected, productivity increases.
Both companies and customers become more accessible for deliveries.
Service providers can serve more customers due to shorter travel times.
Working in the Brussels region becomes more attractive, so recruiting the right profiles is easier.
Less stress from traffic jams and more people cycling also means health benefits, so less absenteeism.

The situation today

Brussels provides 16% of our employment

The Brussels region is the centre of Belgian economic activity.
In 2018, the Brussels region accounted for 741,184 jobs, or 16% of employment in Belgium.*
About half of the jobs in Brussels (48.4%) are filled by commuters from Flanders (64%) and Wallonia (36%).*

Up to €1.7 billion economic loss due to traffic jams

In Brussels, the average daily time lost in traffic jams is up to 45 minutes per driver.*
According to the OECD, this corresponds to an economic loss of 1 to 2% of Belgium's gross domestic product.
For the Brussels region, this means a loss of between 850 million and 1.7 billion euros per year.

Accessibility and location policy

The structural congestion problem is a negative factor when choosing a new location for companies or a new job for employees.
Smoother traffic and better accessibility can positively influence these choices, along with other factors.
For 75% of Brussels entrepreneurs, mobility is at the top of the priority list of problems that require a solution within the Brussels-Capital Region.**

*Impact study Transport & Mobility Leuven
**BECI Business Barometer, January 2020

How does SmartMove improve mobility?

SmartMove revitalises the economy

Companies are easier to reach

Reducing traffic jams makes companies more accessible for employees as well as customers and suppliers.

More customers per day

Shorter travel time means more customers can be served.
This translates into higher profitability for service providers, courier companies and suppliers.

Fitter at work

Less time lost on the road saves employees a lot of stress and frustration. And the negative effects on health of this.
Due to the improved infrastructure, more and more commuters switch to active means of transport such as bicycles, with positive health effects.
Better health translates into less sick leave and lower costs for dealing with it.

Snowball effect

A high concentration of economic activity offers many additional advantages. Economists speak of an "agglomeration" or snowball effect. This is especially true of Brussels.

Economic hubs as we know them in Brussels are an ideal market for additional service providers, such as IT services, consultants and freelancers with specific expertise.
The availability of highly educated talent thanks to Brussels' universities and colleges, and of specialised profiles and services, in turn, increases the productivity and innovation rate of businesses.
In addition to the public sector and the service sector, Brussels is home to many businesses specialising in information technology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Sectors with strong growth.

An attractive labour market

This creates an attractive labour market for highly educated graduates.
Vacancies for people with specialised profiles are also filled more easily.

More jobs, more prosperity

Businesses produce additional activity: think of parcel services, maintenance crews, security, catering, and so on.
More companies, more jobs. Also for Brussels citizens.
More people in work, more disposable income, more prosperity.
More prosperity, more money available for investment.

National welfare effect

The economic welfare effect of SmartMove will also be felt outside the Brussels region. According to specialists, this can amount to 54.1 million euros per year for the whole of Belgium.*

*Impact study Transport & Mobility Leuven

54 million

Welfare effect up to 54.1 million per year.

Health benefits for Brussels

What you don’t need to spend, is also profit. Specifically for Brussels:

€10.6 million less accident costs per year.
€11.4 million in health dividend (through more exercise, less disease and less healthcare spending).*
€9.8 million in emission benefits from reduced emissions.*