The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 СКАЧАТЬ