GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Netherlands became a kingdom in 1813 and together with the Netherlands Antilles, an island group in the Caribbean, it forms the United Kingdom of The Netherlands. The Head of State is Queen Beatrix. The Netherlands is also often referred to as Holland, a name which originates from Medieval times, when province of Holland dominated the economic and political life of The Netherlands. The country's size is relatively small. The surface area of The Netherlands totals 41,547 square kms. Two third of the country consists of cultivated land, 9% is water and 8% is woodland. Nearly 50% of the population of The Netherlands lives in twenty urban conglomerates. The country lies in a temperate one and its climate is greatly influenced by the sea. In winter, the average temperature is 2 degrees Celsius, but the temperature may range between plus 13 degrees and minus 20 degrees Celsius. In summer, the average temperature is 17 degrees to 30 degree Celsius.

 

ECONOMY:

The services sector has grown tremendously, to become by far the largest contributor to the National product. The contribution of this sector has grown drastically over the years. This growth has taken place at the expense of the agricultural and mining sector.

The geographical location and the lack of natural resources have traditionally made the Netherlands a trade-oriented country. Trade and all related services have become ever more function, as the gateway to Northern EC, has only stimulated the increasing dependence on trade, transport and services.

IMPORTING ENVIRONMENT

The Netherlands role in the world economy is bigger than one would expect if one merely considers the size of the country. Trade has always been the country's mainstay, going back to medieval times, when Dutch merchants sailed world seas looking for trade. The importance of trade for the economy of the Netherlands has grown ever since, due to two factors: geographical location and lack of natural resources. Today, Netherlands is the most rate-dependent country in the EC after Belgium.

The major suppliers of goods to the Netherlands outside the EC, are the USA, EFTA and Japan. The latter increased its market share by some 50%. However as a point of comparison, imports from the USA, the largest single extra-EC supplier to the Netherlands, are only a third in value of the imports from Germany.

The following organization can offer advice on Commercial information:

EMBASSY INDIA
Buitenrustweg-2
2517 KD, The Hague
Netherlands

Fax: 00-31-70-3617072
Tel: 00-31-70-3469771
E- Mail : ambsdr@indemb.nl, attad@indemb.nl, couns@indemb.nl