The Netherlands - Overview:
Bordered by Belgium to the south and Germany to the east, and open to the North Sea, the Netherlands occupies a strategic position in Europe covering some 41,500 sq.km. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics' Yearbook 2002, the population stands at around 16 million.

A founding member of NATO and the EC, the Netherlands also participated in the introduction of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999. Along with 11 other EU countries, the Netherlands began circulating the Euro currency on 1 January 2002.

The country is a constitutional monarchy with the seat of its democratic government in The Hague. The capital is Amsterdam with other primary cities being Rotterdam, Utrecht and Eindohven. In addition to many European foreign nationals, the ethnic groups represented in the Netherlands include Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians. The national language is Dutch, but its inhabitants are well known for their multilingual capabilities. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics some 75 per cent of the population speak English.

The Netherlands is a modern, industrialised nation, a large exporter of agricultural products and a significant player in the European finance sector. It's proximity to the North Sea oil and gas industry makes it a hub for offshore activities and related research and development endeavours as well as a vital link in the industry's supply chain. The economy is characterised by moderate inflation, stable industrial relations and a comfortable current account surplus. As part of the global slowdown, economic growth slowed considerably in 2001 but for the four years prior to that, annual growth averaged around 4 per cent, well above the EU average.

According to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2002 GDP stands at US$379,8 billion and US$23,887 per capita. In a workforce of a little under 7.2 million, services account for around 80 per cent, industry employs around 17 per cent with the remainder in agriculture. Unemployment stands at around 2.5 per cent of the total available workforce.

Its strategic location has given rise to a comprehensive goods handling and transportation sector supported by a well-developed infrastructure. This has also helped to sustain an industrial and manufacturing base, which includes activities in food processing, automotive production and distribution, chemicals, electronics and medical technologies populated by many of the worlds leading companies.

Countries in the EU account for around 78 per cent of the Netherlands' exports with Germany dominating ahead of Benelux, France and the UK. Exports commodities include machinery, equipment, chemicals, fuels and foodstuffs. EU countries account for the majority of imports at around 56 per cent. Once again, Germany is the most prominent followed by Benelux, the UK and France, with the US accounting for around 10 per cent of imports.