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New Zealand 's participation in the Flanders battles during the First World War is still commemorated with warmth and lies at the heart of the relationship between the two countries. Mesen in West Flanders is the twin town of Featherston in the Wairarapa. The 90th anniversary of the Battles of Messines and Passchendaele was marked with a number of commemorative events between June to October 2007. New Zealand signed a shared memories arrangement with the Flemish regional government in October and a similar arrangement with the Belgium federal government is currently being finalised, both of which are designed to promote cooperation in perserving and strengthening our shared history of the two World Wars.
People-to-people ties were further strengthened by the conclusion in April 2003 of a reciprocal Working Holiday Scheme for 18 to 30 year olds, which came into operation on 1 November 2004.
New Zealand traditionally enjoys a favourable balance of trade with Belgium. New Zealand direct exports to Belgium for the year ended June 2007 were NZ$501.9 million. These figures are likely to be distorted, however, as a large proportion of New Zealand's exports to the European Union enter through the Belgian ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. The use of Belgian port facilities and infrastructure by New Zealand exporters gives Belgium a vested interest in encouraging bilateral and EU/New Zealand trade. New Zealand companies based in Belgium include Meat New Zealand; Zespri International Europe; eServ Global; and ENZA Fruit Europe.
Belgium is an important market for sheep meat and butter. Other major exports are cheese and wool (Belgium is an important market for New Zealand coarse wool, most of which goes to supply Belgium's large export-orientated carpet manufacturing industry). Imports from Belgium for the year ended June 2007 totalled NZ$304.9 million. Major items included motor vehicles, medicaments, and diamonds. A Belgian trade mission, led by the Belgian Crown Prince, representing a wide range of Belgian export sectors, visited New Zealand in November 2002.
Land Area 30,528 sq km
Population
10.4 million (2006)
Capital City Brussels
Language Dutch (Flemish, 58%), French (32%) and German (0.7%)
Political system Constitutional monarchy
National
government Liberal-Socialist (violet) coalition (four party)
(caretaker)
National legislature Chamber of Representatives (150 members), Senate (72 members)
Last election
May 2007 (federal), June 2007 (regional/community)
Next election
2011 (federal and regional/community)
Head of State King Albert II
Head of Government Prime Minister Yves Leterme
GDP US$451.7 billion (2007 est)
Real
GDP growth 32.6%
Exports
US$336.6 billion
Imports
US$328.0 billion
Main exports
Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation, oil products
Current account balance US$12.3 billion
Inflation 1.8%
Unemployment 7.5%
NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$501.9 million (year ended
June 2007)
Main Exports Sheepmeat; butter; cheese; wool; venison
NZ Imports (CIF)
NZ$304.9 million
Main Imports
Motor vehicles; medicaments; diamondstop of page
The Belgian Embassy in Canberra is responsible for bilateral relations with New Zealand, following the closure of the Wellington embassy (31 January 2002). New Zealand is represented in Belgium by an Embassy in Brussels, and an Honorary Consul in Antwerp.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Belgium [external link].
