Chapter 82

Overview: In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $350 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: -4.5% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $5,200 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1987) Budget: revenues $180 million; expenditures $202 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1989) Exports: $40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports) partners: France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987) Imports: $186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products partners: UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, Yemen 13%, Singapore 8%, Japan 6% (1987) External debt: $189 million (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1987); accounts for 10% of GDP Electricity: 30,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products - sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2545 (January 1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988)

*Seychelles, Economy

Fiscal year: calendar year

*Seychelles, Communications

Highways: 260 km total; 160 km paved, 100 km crushed stone or earth Ports: Victoria Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT Airports: total: 14 usable: 14 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 13,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; USAF tracking station

*Seychelles, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 18,982; fit for military service 9,710 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Sierra Leone, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and Liberia Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 71,740 km2 land area: 71,620 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total 958 km, Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km Coastline: 402 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 31% forest and woodland: 29% other: 13% Irrigated land: 340 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: extensive mangrove swamps hinder access to sea; deforestation; soil degradation

*Sierra Leone, People

Population: 4,510,571 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.61% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 45.47 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 19.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 145 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.87 years male: 43.1 years female: 48.71 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.01 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean Ethnic divisions: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1% Religions: Muslim 30%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%, other or none 30% Languages: English (official; regular use limited to literate minority), Mende principal vernacular in the south, Temne principal vernacular in the north, Krio the language of the re-settled ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua franca Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write English, Merde, Temne, or Arabic (1990) total population: 21% male: 31% female: 11% Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981 est.) note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985); 55% of population of working age

*Sierra Leone, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone Digraph: SL Type: military government Capital: Freetown Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*, Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK) Constitution: 1 October 1991; amended September 1991 Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961) Political parties and leaders: status of existing political parties is unknown following 29 April 1992 coup Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: suspended after 29 April 1992 coup; Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party elections sometime within three years Executive branch: National Provisional Ruling Council Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: Chairman of the Supreme Council of State Capt. Valentine E. M. STRASSER (since 29 April 1992) Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-9261 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Lauralee M. PETERS embassy: Walpole and Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226-481

*Sierra Leone, Government

FAX: [232] (22) 225-471 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

*Sierra Leone, Economy

Overview: The economic and social infrastructure is not well developed. Subsistence agriculture dominates the economy, generating about one-third of GDP and employing about two-thirds of the working population. Manufacturing, which accounts for roughly 10% of GDP, consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Diamond mining provides an important source of hard currency. The economy suffers from high unemployment, rising inflation, large trade deficits, and a growing dependency on foreign assistance. The government in 1990 was attempting to get the budget deficit under control and, in general, to bring economic policy in line with the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank. Since March 1991, however, military incursions by Liberian rebels in southern and eastern Sierra Leone have severely strained the economy and have undermined efforts to institute economic reforms. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion (FY92 est.) National product real growth rate: -1% (FY92 est.) National product per capita: $330 (FY92 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $68 million; expenditures $118 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (FY92 est.) Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) commodities: rutile 50%, bauxite 17%, cocoa 11%, diamonds 3%, coffee 3% partners: US, UK, Belgium, Germany, other Western Europe Imports: $62 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.) commodities: capital goods 40%, food 32%, petroleum 12%, consumer goods 7%, light industrial goods partners: US, EC countries, Japan, China, Nigeria External debt: $633 million (FY92 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 85,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 45 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum refinery Agriculture: accounts for over 30% of GDP and two-thirds of the labor force; largely subsistence farming; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, palm kernels; harvests of food staple rice meets 80% of domestic needs; annual fish catch averages 53,000 metric tons Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $161 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $848 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million

*Sierra Leone, Economy

Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1 - 552.43 (January 1993), 499.44 (1992), 295.34 (1991), 144.9275 (1990), 58.1395 (1989), 31.2500 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Sierra Leone, Communications

Railroads: 84 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge mineral line is used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is closed Highways: 7,400 km total; 1,150 km paved, 490 km laterite (some gravel), 5,760 km improved earth Inland waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round Ports: Freetown, Pepel, Bonthe Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship totaling 5,592 GRT/9,107 DWT Airports: total: 11 usable: 7 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Sierra Leone, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Police, Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 983,281; fit for military service 475,855 (1993 est.); no conscription Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Singapore, Geography

Location: Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 632.6 km2 land area: 622.6 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: two islands in dispute with Malaysia Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April) Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 84% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: mostly urban and industrialized Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

*Singapore, People

Population: 2,826,331 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.19% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 17.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.75 years male: 73.07 years female: 78.63 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3% Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Atheist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84% Labor force: 1,485,800 by occupation: financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce 22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)

*Singapore, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore Digraph: SN Type: republic within Commonwealth Capital: Singapore Administrative divisions: none Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965) Political parties and leaders: government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general opposition: Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory Elections: President: last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held NA August 1993); results - President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without opposition Parliament: last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1 Executive branch: president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985) Head of Government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister ONG Teng Cheong (since 2 January 1985) Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador S. R. NATHAN

*Singapore, Government

chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 667-7555 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jon M. HUNTSMAN, Jr. embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 mailing address: FPO AP 96534 telephone: [65] 338-0251 FAX: [65] 338-4550 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

*Singapore, Economy

Overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. The economy appears to have pulled off a soft landing from the 9% growth rate of the late 1980s, registering higher than expected growth in 1992 while stemming inflation. Economic activity slowed early in 1992, primarily as a result of slackened demand in Singapore's export markets. But after bottoming out in the second quarter, the economy picked up in line with a gradual recovery in the United States. The year's best performers were the construction and financial services industries and manufacturers of computer-related components. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that productivity is catching up. Government surpluses and the rate of gross national savings remain high. In technology, per capita output, and labor discipline, Singapore is well on its way toward its goal of becoming a developed country. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $45.9 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 5.8% (1992) National product per capita: $16,500 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1992) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (June 1992) Budget: revenues $10.4 billion; expenditures $9.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993) Exports: $61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment partners: US 21%, Malaysia 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6% Imports: $66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 14%, Taiwan 4% External debt: $0 Singapore is a net creditor Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP Electricity: 4,860,000 kW capacity; 18,000 million kWh produced, 6,420 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology Agriculture: occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables

*Singapore, Economy

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a major money-laundering center Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.0 billion Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6531 (January 1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

*Singapore, Communications

Railroads: 38 km of 1.000-meter gauge Highways: 2,644 km total (1985) Ports: Singapore Merchant marine: 492 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,763,511 GRT/15,816,384 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 125 cargo, 72 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 165 oil tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 7 combination ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 74 bulk, 3 combination bulk; note - many Singapore flag ships are foreign owned Airports: total: 10 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

*Singapore, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 853,440; fit for military service 629,055 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Slovakia, Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, between Hungary and Poland Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 48,845 km2 land area: 48,800 km2 comparative area: about twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total 1,355 km, Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property; establishment of international border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; gas Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: severe damage to forests from "acid rain" caused by coal-fired power stations Note: landlocked

*Slovakia, People

Population: 5,375,501 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.51% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 14.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 9.47 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.39 years male: 68.18 years female: 76.85 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak Ethnic divisions: Slovak 85.6%, Hungarian 10.8%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1.1%, Ruthenian 15,000, Ukrainian 13,000, Moravian 6,000, German 5,000, Polish 3,000 Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5% Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

*Slovakia, Government