Belgium. Ballpoint Pens, Rollerball Pens,Cartridges, Fountain Pens.

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The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 50 50 N, 4 00 E Area - comparative about the size of Maryland Coast line 66.5 km Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy Terrain Belgium flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast Natural Resources Belgium construction materials, silica sand, carbonates Irrigated land 400 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 20.8 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes Environment Currentissues the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges Geography Note crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO Population Belgium 10,423,493 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.082% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.2% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 15,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% Religions Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25% Languages Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) Education Expenditures 6% of GDP (2004) Government Type federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy Administrative Divisions 3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form) Independence 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) National Holiday 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I Constitution 7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state Legal System based on civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Legislative Branch bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected by popular vote, 31 indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Political Partie Sand Leaders Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council) Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field) Flag Description This modern, 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. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries and its overall current account deficit widened to 4% of GDP in 2009. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, income distribution is relatively equal and the government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000-2008 period. In 2009 Belgian GDP contracted by 3.1%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the budget deficit worsened because of large-scale bail-outs in the financial sector. Belgian banks have been severely affected by the international financial crisis with three major banks all receiving capital injections from the government. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are also increasing pressure on public finances, making it likely the government will need to implement unpopular austerity measures to restore fiscal balance. Economy Overview $381 billion (2009 est.) GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) $466.9 billion (2009 est.) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -3.1% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate $36,600 (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 5.01 million (2009 est.) Labor Force 8.3% (2009 est.) Unemployment Rate 15.2% (2007 est.) Population Below Poverty Line 28 (2005) Distribution Of Family Income 24.2% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed 99% of GDP (2009 est.) Inflation Rrate 0% (2009 est.) Central Bank Discount Rate 3% (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate 7.03% (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $NA Stock Of Quasi Money $NA Stock Of Domestic Credit $767.1 billion (31 December 2008) Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares $NA (31 December 2008) Agriculture - Products sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk Industries engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Industrial Production Growth Rate 2% (2009 est.) Electricity Production 82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Consumption 84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Exports 6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.) Oil Production 11,220 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Consumption 716,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 507,500 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Imports 1.076 million bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 17.33 billion cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Imports 17.42 billion cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Current Account Balance -$18.92 billion (2009 est.) Exports $296.1 billion (2009 est.) Exports Commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs Exports Partners Germany 19.8%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2008) Imports $315 billion (2009 est.) Imports Commodities raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products Imports Partners Netherlands 19.4%, Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.5%, China 4.1% (2008) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $NA (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $NA (31 December 2009) Radio Broadcast Stations $707.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.) Television Broadcast Stations euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005) Internet Country Code 4.457 million (2008) Airports 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) Military Service Age and Obligation 1 (2009)

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