For the fourth consecutive year, Belgium's exports
to Kuwait have registered a hike in 2003 reaching an estimated 124 million Euros (43 million KD) recording a 20.2 percent increase in comparison to figures quoted
in 2002.
Trade and Economy Attach'e at the Belgian Embassy in Kuwait, Mohammed Al-Keelani said that the Economic Mission chaired by Belgian Crown Prince Philippe in October 2002 had played a major role for this increase as well as the onset of export to Iraqi markets via Kuwait, KUNA reported.
Al-Keelani said that machines and devices ranked as first in the list of goods exported to Kuwait taking 27.5 percent of the total exports followed by chemical products with 21.6 percent, then foodstuffs 12.2 percent,
transport equipment 8 percent and metal industries 6.1 percent.
Meanwhile, Belgium imports from Kuwait declined by 46 percent registering around 20 million Euros (Seven million KD) in 2003 compared with 2002.
Al-Keelani attributed this retreat to shifting Kuwait's oil exports from Antwerp port to other European ports such as Rotterdam in Netherlands. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
