Chapter 24
Economic overview: Boasting a diversified and stable economy, Colombia has enjoyed Latin America's most consistent record of growth over the last several decades. Gross domestic product (GDP) has expanded every year for more than 25 years, and unlike many other South American countries, Colombia did not default on any of its official debts during the "lost decade" of the 1980s. Since 1990, when Bogota introduced a comprehensive reform program that opened the economy to foreign trade and investment, GDP growth has averaged more than 4% annually. Growth has been fueled in recent years by the expansion of the construction and financial service industries and an influx of foreign capital. Some foreign investors have been deterred by an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure and the violence stemming from drug trafficking and persistent rural guerrilla warfare, but direct foreign investment, especially in the oil industry, is still rising at a rapid rate. Although oil consequently is overtaking coffee as the main legal export, earnings from illicit drugs probably exceed those from any other export. Non-petroleum economic growth has been slowing, however, in part because the tight monetary policies adopted to offset the inflationary impact of high capital inflows and rising government spending have slowed local sales and investment. Business confidence also has been damaged by a political crisis stemming from allegations that senior government officials, including President SAMPER, solicited contributions from drug traffickers during the 1994 election campaign. The slowdown in the growth of labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing has caused a small rise in unemployment and interfered with President SAMPER'S plans to lower the country's poverty rate, which has remained at about 40% despite the expanding economy. Nevertheless, the booming oil sector, growing foreign investment, and the fundamental stability of the economy promise to keep growth positive for the foreseeable future, barring severe, unpredictable shocks from developments in the political or international arenas.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $192.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21.5% industry: 29% services: 49.5%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 12 million (1990) by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 10,220,000 kW production: 33 billion kWh consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp farming
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 50,900 hectares of coca under cultivation in 1995; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and opium crops by 1997
Exports: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)
Imports: $13.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)
External debt: $14 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $30 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,011.11 (January 1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 3,386 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia Portete) narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (1830 km in use) (1995)
Highways: total: 107,200 km paved: 12,600 km unpaved: 94,600 km
Waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine: total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 97,037 GRT/129,404 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, container 3, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 989 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 35 with paved runways under 914 m: 557 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 41 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 311 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 1.89 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 413 (licensed), FM 217 (licensed), shortwave 28
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 33
Televisions: 5.5 million (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,067,538 males fit for military service: 6,774,105 males reach military age (18) annually: 346,372 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2 billion, 2.8% of GDP (1995)
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@Comoros -------
Map ---
Location: 12 10 S, 44 15 E -- Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Flag ----
Description: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
Geography ---------
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 2,170 sq km land area: 2,170 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation natural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People ------
Population: 569,237 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 137,235; female 136,207) 15-64 years: 49% (male 138,447; female 142,058) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,242; female 8,048) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 45.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.7 years male: 56.43 years female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran
Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form: Comores
Data code: CN
Type of government: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali) note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 7 June 1992
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March 1996) was elected by popular vote; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001) head of government: Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said (since March 1996) was appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) ruling coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; opposition: UDZIMA 8; other smaller parties: 10; two seats remained unfilled
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, plus all the former presidents of the republic
Political parties and leaders: Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamada DJIMBANAOU (ambassador to the US and Canada) chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
Economy -------
Economic overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.)
Labor force: 140,000 (1982) by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate: 15.8% (1989)
Budget: revenues: $83 million expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1992)
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: -6.5% (1989 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 16,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra partners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)
Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement, consumer goods partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)
External debt: $160 million (1992 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 375.42 (January 1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,104 km paved: 400 km unpaved: 704 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 4 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 3,770 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 200 (1991 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Comoran Security Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 121,854 males fit for military service: 72,873 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Congo -----
Map ---
Location: 1 00 S, 15 00 E -- Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Flag ----
Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Geography ---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 342,000 sq km land area: 341,500 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 5,504 km border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 62% other: 7%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment: current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation natural hazards: seasonal flooding international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them
People ------
Population: 2,527,841 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 550,971; female 545,096) 15-64 years: 53% (male 657,035; female 688,441) 65 years and over: 4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.19% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.77 years male: 44.21 years female: 47.37 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions: south: Kongo 48% north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12% center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 74.9% male: 83.1% female: 67.2%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo local short form: Congo former: Congo/Brazzaville
Data code: CF
Type of government: republic
Capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1997); results - President Pascal LISSOUBA won 61% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993) appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3 Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: of Congo's many political parties, the most important are Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel MOUELLET chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860