many, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central
banks; their links with BIS are currently under review

Benelux Economic Union (Benelux): note - acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg

established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960

aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration

members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Big Seven: note - membership is the same as the Group of 7

established - 1975

aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies

members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus
the US

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC): established - 25 June 1992

aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation

members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece,
Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is
in the process of joining

observers - (16) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat, France, Germany,
International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia,
US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have applied for
observer status

Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom): established - 4 July
1973; effective - 1 August 1973

aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among
the less developed countries

members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago

associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969;
effective - 26 January 1970

aim - to promote economic development and cooperation

regional members - (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint