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Belgium Country Profile Belgium Country Profile BELGIUM Country Profile Politics Economy Trade & Industries General Profile Total area 30,528 Km² Population 10,438,353 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Growth World Population 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 7.0 1% Government type federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, Chief of state son of the monarch Head of government Prime Minister Elio DI RUPO (since 6 December 2011) Capital Brussels Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy Belanda (official) 60%, Perancis (official) 40%, Jerman (official) less Language than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) Major City BRUSSELS, Antwerp. Economy Profile 2009 2010 2011 World GDP Growth -0.8% 5% 3.6% World GDP (in 58.1 63.3 70.2 Trillions) BelgiumGDP Growth -2,7% 2,1% 2% GDP $529 billion GDP – Per capita $37,600 agriculture: 2% GDP – Composition by industry: 25% sector services: 73% (2007 est.) Profile al Inflation 3.1% Gener Exchanges Rates euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7107 (2011 est.) Primary Economy steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, Chapter: Chapter: 1 Sector automobiles, electronics, , machinery fabrication, servicesandagriculture Unemployment Rate 21,9% Economy Profile Economy Chapter: Chapter: 2 Ports and cargo ports (tonnage): Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge Terminals container ports (TEUs): Antwerp (8,662,891), Zeebrugge (2,209,715) International Antwerp International Airport, Ostend-Bruges International Airport, Brussels Airports Airport, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Liège Airport Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS 13.6%, CD&V 10%, sp.a 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo 5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS 7, CD&V 4, sp.a 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party Election results - N-VA 17.4%, PS 13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, sp.a 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Dedecker 2.3%, the Popular Party 1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18, sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Dedecker 1, the Popular Party 1 Menteri Luar Negeri: Steven Vanackere (CD&V) Wakil PM, Menteri Keuangan dan Reformasi Institusional: Didier Reynders (MR) Wakil PM, Menteri Layanan Publik: Steven Vanackere (CD&V) Wakil PM, Menteri Sosial, Kesehatan Publik dan Integrasi Sosial: Laurette Onkelinx (PS) Wakil PM, Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Kebijakan Kesetaraan, Migrasi dan Suaka: Joëlle Milquet (CDH) Ministry Name Wakil PM, Menteri APBN: Guy Vanhengel (VLD) Menteri Kehakiman: Stefaan De Clerck (CD&V) Menteri Pertahanan: Pieter De Crem (CD&V) Menteri Ekonomi, Pertanian dan Kelas Menengah: Sabine Laurelle (MR) Menteri Pensiunan dan Kota Besar: Michael Daerden (PS) Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Energi: Paul Magnette (PS) Menteri Kerjasama Pembangunan: Charles Michel (MR) Menteri Dalam Negeri: Annemie Turtelboom (Open VLD) Menteri Usaha dan Bisnis: Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Wouter BEKE]; Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Alexander DE CROO]; Groen! [Wouter VAN BESIEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); Libertarian, Direct, Democratic or LDD (formerly Dedecker's List) [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; New Political Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or parties and SP.A [Bruno TOBBACK]; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno leaders VALKENIERS] Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Sarah TURINE]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Benoit LUTGEN]; Popular Party or PP [ Mischael MODRIKAMEN]; Reform Movement or MR [Charles MICHEL]; Socialist Party or PS [Thierry GIET]; other minor parties This modern, open, and private-enterprise-based economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in Belgium the more heavily-populated region of Flanders in the north. With few natural Economy resources, Belgium imports substantial quantities of raw materials and exports Characteristics a large volume of manufactures, making its economy vulnerable to volatility in Terminals Ports and world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries, and Belgium has benefited most from its proximity to Germany. In 2011 Belgian GDP grew by 2.0%, the unemployment rate decreased slightly to Chapter: 3 7.7% from 8.3% the previous year, and the government reduced the budget deficit from a peak of 6% of GDP in 2009 to 4.2% in 2011. Despite the relative improvement in Belgium's budget deficit, public debt hovers near 100% of GDP, a factor that has contributed to investor perceptions that the country is increasingly vulnerable to spillover from the euro-zone crisis. Belgian banks were severely affected by the international financial crisis in 2008 with three major banks receiving capital injections from the government, and the nationalization of the Belgian arm of a Franco-Belgian bank. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are mid- to long-term challenges to public finances. The Belgian economy is particularly open, foreign trade representing more than 180% of GDP. In addition to being an export champion, Belgium also plays Trade Policy an important role as a transit and distribution center for the other countries of the European Union. Employment : 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed R&D / innovation : 3% of the EU’s GDP to be invested in R&D/innovation Climate change / energy : greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than in 1990; Share of 20% of energy from renewables; 20% increase in energy Belgium 2020 efficiency Vision Education : reducing school drop-out rates below 10%; at least 40% of 30- 34–year-olds completing third level education Poverty / social exclusion: At least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion Foreign MinisterKarelDeGuchtoutlinedhis foreign policyin theninemain areas:EuropeanUnion, Africa, Relationswith the UnitedStates, RelationswithOther Countries, Europeanand InternationalSecurity, Foreign Policy Multilateralismand theUNPreventiveDiplomacy, EconomicDiplomacyandConsularAffairs. Belgium's foreign policy aimsto strengthenandbuildits interests, withthe implementationin accordance with thefinancialandhumanresources. ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD International (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, organization ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, participation OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation Main Industry equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Industry Type Name of the company Beverages Anheuser-Busch InBev Biggest Diversified Chemicals Solvay Company Diversified Metal & mining Umicore Pharmaceuticals UCB Policy Trade Telecommunication Service Belgacom Chapter: Chapter: 4 Chapter: Chapter: 5 .
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