page_title: Economy of Liechtenstein
section_title: Foreign trade
hierarchical_section_title: Economy of Liechtenstein / Foreign trade
caption_attribution_description: English: zh:油麻地 喜利得集團 zh:地鋪 &amp; zh:公司車
context_page_description: The economy of Liechtenstein is based roughly equally on services and industry, with a small but significant agricultural sector. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 85% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Free Trade Association since 1991. It also has been a member of the European Economic Area since May 1995 and participates in the Schengen Agreement for passport-free intra-European travel.
context_section_description: Besides its efficient industry, there also is a strong services sector. Four out of ten employees work in the services sector, a relatively high proportion of whom are foreigners, including those who commute across the border from neighboring Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Industrial exports more than doubled in 20 years from $1.21 billion (SFr. 2.2 billion) in 1988 to $2.9 billion (SFr. 4.6 billion) in 2008. Some 15.7% of Liechtenstein goods are exported to Switzerland, 62.6% to the EU and 21.1% to the rest of the world.
  The United States has been the most important export market for Liechtenstein in recent times, totaling $561 million (SFr. 876 million); Germany is second, with $479 million (SFr. 748 million) worth of imports, and Switzerland third, with $375 million (SFr. 587 million).
  About 32% of the country's revenues are invested in research and development, one of the driving forces of the success of Liechtenstein's economy. Total R&D spending in 2000 rose by 20.7% to approximately $140 million (213 million francs).
caption: An office of the Hilti Corporation in Hong Kong pictured in March 2010, an example of Liechtenstein's export economy.
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