February 28, 2009
Belgium
Strength in Diversity
Yves Leterme, Belgium’s Prime Minister, is the leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) who previously served as the country’s Prime Minister from March 2008 to December 2008.
He has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget, Institutional Reforms, Transport and the North [...]
February 29, 2004
Ecuador
Ecuador has become one of the best performing economies in Latin America. 2003 marked the first year of the Gutierrez government, which included President Gutierrez visiting the United States in February. Driven by oil exports, which have been stimulated by the opening of the new OCP pipeline, Ecuador is set to reduce its [...]
February 29, 2004
Singapore
Singapore’s success story has been based on proactive long-range planning and a willingness to adapt to current realities in order to achieve long-term economic growth.
Area: 270 square miles Capital: Singapore Government: Republic Population: 4,6 million Language: Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil GDP per capita: USD 24,000 Monetary unit: Singapore Dollar Imports: Machinery and equipment, [...]
September 8, 2002
Shenzhen
When Shenzhen was designated a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1980, it was the trigger for a boom that has lasted more than two decades. Formerly a largely agricultural economy, Shenzhen now has more than 10,000 industrial companies, has become a high-tech cluster, and is one of China’s most important centers for research [...]
September 8, 2002
Euregio Meuse-Rhine
Situated in the heart of Europe is a cross-border area encompassing three nations, five partner regions, and three languages. The Euregio Meuse-Rhine, as it is known, is located where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet. With a population of 3.7 million comprising Dutch, German and French speakers, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine is a [...]
July 14, 2002
Uruguay
Uruguay’s ancient Charrúa Indian population heroically resisted settle-ment by European invaders, until parts of the country were taken by the Spanish in the 1620s and the Portuguese in the 1680s. Spain assumed full control in the eighteenth century, wiping out the indigenous population.
Area: 66,300 square miles Capital: Montevideo Government: Constitutional Republic Population: 3.4 [...]
June 30, 2002
Philippines
The fertile islands of the Philippines have been inhabited for thousands of years. Many invaders sought to take control of the area, including the explorer Magellan who landed in 1521 and was killed by native warriors.
Area: 117,000 square miles Capital: Manila Government: Republic Population: 82.85 million Language: English, Filipino GDP per capita: USD [...]
February 10, 2002
Shanghai
The gateway to the mighty Yangtze River, Shanghai was primarily a fishing village for centuries until the British stepped up trading activities there in 1842.
Area: 2,418 square miles Population: 14 million Country: People’s Republic of China Language: Mandarin Monetary unit: Yuan
Business gateway to China
History
The French, the Japanese and other groups later established a [...]
January 6, 2002
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has shown steady growth in GDP and per capita income over the last few years, with one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America. The Central Bank recorded 7.3 percent economic growth in 1998, although Hurricane Georges in September 1999 was a devastating setback.
Latin American tiger goes on growing
Banking [...]
January 6, 2002
Botswana
The land that is now Botswana has been inhabited for at least 30,000 years. As the local population grew and Europeans began to arrive in the 18th century, the Tswana, the leading tribe, regrouped to develop a highly structured, stable society ruled by hereditary monarchs.
Area: 234,144 square miles Capital: Gaborone Government: Parliamentary Republic [...]
December 23, 2001
Slovenia
The Slovenes, a Slavic people, settled in what is now Slovenia in the sixth century.
Area: 7,899 square miles Capital: Ljubljana Government: Parliamentary democratic Republic Population: 1.93 million Language: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croation 6%, other 3% GDP per capita: USD 10,900 Monetary unit: Tolar Exports: Manufactured goods, machinery & transport equipment, chemicals, food Imports: Machinery [...]
