EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Juan CASSIERS; Chancery at 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington,
DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-6900; there are Belgian Consulates General in
Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US:
Ambassador Bruce S. GELB; Embassy at 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
(mailing address is APO AE 09724); telephone [32] (2) 513-3830; FAX [32] (2)
511-2725; there is a US Consulate General in Antwerp
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
design was based on the flag of France
:Belgium Economy
Overview:
This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central
geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified
industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the
populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging
reinvestment in the southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources
Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely
dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC
countries. During the period 1988-90, Belgium's economic performance was
marked by 4% average growth, moderate inflation, and a substantial external
surplus. Growth fell to 1.4% in 1991.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $171.8 billion, per capita $17,300; real
growth rate 1.4% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.4% est. (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $45.0 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (1989)
Exports:
$118 billion (f.o.b., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
commodities:
iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum
products
partners:
EC 74%, US 5%, former Communist countries 2% (1989)
Imports:
$120 billion (c.i.f., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
commodities:
fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners:
EC 73%, US 4%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist
countries 3% (1989)
External debt:
$28.8 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.2% (1991 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP
Electricity:
17,400,000 kW capacity; 67,100 million kWh produced, 6,767 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
engineering and metal products, processed food and beverages, chemicals,
basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Agriculture:
accounts for 2.3% of GDP; emphasis on livestock production - beef, veal,
pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain,
and tobacco; net importer of farm products
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion
Currency:
Belgian franc (plural - francs); 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 32.462 (January 1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418
(1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Belgium Communications
Railroads:
Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,667 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 1,978 km electrified; 191 km
1.000-meter gauge, government owned and operated
Highways:
103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km
national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000
km unpaved rural roads
Inland waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines:
petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Ports:
Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:
23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,979 GRT/88,738
