SAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAM (appointed 3 October 1994)
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: APO AE 09724; PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
telephone: [32] (2) 513 38 30
FAX: [32] (2) 511 27 25

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 substantial
quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures,
making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets.
Three-fourths of its trade is with other EU countries. The economy
grew at a strong 4% pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in
1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with 2.3% growth in
1994. Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the
government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure
more into line with other industrialized countries.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $181.5 billion (1994
est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.3% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $18,040 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994)

Unemployment rate: 14.1% (December 1994)

Budget:
revenues: $97.8 billion
expenditures: $109.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989)

Exports: $117 billion (f.o.b., 1992) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union

commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors,
diamonds, petroleum products
partners: EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Commu