Turks and Caicos Islandsabout 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Tuvaluone of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; sixof the coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti,and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutaohave landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon
Ugandalandlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes andrivers
Ukrainestrategic position at the crossroads between Europe andAsia; second-largest country in Europe
United Arab Emiratesstrategic location along southern approaches toStrait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
United Kingdomlies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 kmfrom France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125km from tidal waters
United Statesworld's third-largest country by size (after Russiaand Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinleyis highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest pointon the continent
Uruguaysecond-smallest South American country (after Suriname);most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) isgrassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
Uzbekistanalong with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doublylandlocked countries in the world
Vanuatua Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smallerislands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Venezuelaon major sea and air routes linking North and SouthAmerica; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highestwaterfall
Vietnamextending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 kmacross at its narrowest point
Virgin Islandsimportant location along the Anegada Passage - a keyshipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the bestnatural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Wake Islandstrategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergencylanding location for transpacific flights
Wallis and Futunaboth island groups have fringing reefs
West Banklandlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel'scoastal aquifers; there are 244 West Bank settlements and 29 EastJerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts(August 2003 est.)
Western Saharathe waters off the coast are particularly richfishing areas
Worldthe world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old,just about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for theuniverse
Yemenstrategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking theRed Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shippinglanes
Zambialandlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundarywith Zimbabwe
Zimbabwelandlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundarywith Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive VictoriaFalls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2115 Political pressure groups and leaders
AfghanistanJamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former PresidentBurhanuddin RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for theLiberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are alsosmall monarchist, communist, and democratic groups
AlbaniaConfederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [KastriotMUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [GafurADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions ofAlbania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
AlgeriaThe Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia AliABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]
American SamoaNA
AndorraNA
AngolaFront for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC[N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armedstruggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
AnguillaNA
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [WilliamROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
ArgentinaArgentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA);Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); ArgentineRural Society (large landowners' association); businessorganizations; Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical unionfor employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Laboror CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization);Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students
ArmeniaYerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
ArubaNA
AustriaAustrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent butprimarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, CatholicAction; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party orOeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and othernon-government organizations in the areas of environment and humanrights
AzerbaijanSadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed ArmenianNagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union ofPro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF)
Bahamas, TheNA
BahrainShi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97,demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end tounemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamicfundamentalist groups are active
BangladeshNA
BarbadosBarbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne LaborUnion [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [EricSEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
BelarusNA
BelgiumChristian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federationof Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representingbankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal andmedical professions; various organizations represent the culturalinterests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as PaxChristi and groups representing immigrants
BelizeSociety for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR[Adele CATZIM]
BeninNA
BermudaBermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda IndustrialUnion or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union orBPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
BhutanBuddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leadingmilitant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; UnitedFront for Democracy (exiled)
BoliviaCocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions;Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [RomanLOAYZA]
Bosnia and HerzegovinaNA
BotswanaNA
BrazilLandless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations;large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelicalchristian churches and the Catholic Church
British Virgin IslandsNA
BruneiNA
BulgariaConfederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria orCITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, andnational interest groups with various agendas
Burkina FasoBurkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB;Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February;National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; NationalOrganization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political actiongroups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
BurmaNational Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB(self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEINWIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to thePeople's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area andjoined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government inexile); Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union orKNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; UnionSolidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-government, asocial and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]
Burundiloosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliatedwith Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to governmentsecurity forces
CambodiaNA
CameroonSouthern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN];Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
CanadaNA
Cape VerdeNA
Cayman IslandsNA
Central African RepublicNA
ChadNA
Chilerevitalized university student federations at all majoruniversities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUTincludes trade unionists from the country's five largest laborconfederations
Chinano substantial political opposition groups exist, although thegovernment has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and theChina Democracy Party as subversive groups
Christmas Islandnone
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone
Colombiatwo largest insurgent groups active in Colombia -Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and NationalLiberation Army or ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group isUnited Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
ComorosNA
Congo, Democratic Republic of theNA
Congo, Republic of theCongolese Trade Union Congress or CSC;General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC;Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of CongoleseSocialist Youth or UJSC
Cook IslandsNA
Costa RicaAuthentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD(Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; ConfederatedUnion of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa RicanConfederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Partyaffiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; NationalAssociation for Economic Development or ANFE; National Associationof Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [GilbertBrown]
Cote d'IvoireNA
CroatiaNA
CubaNA
CyprusConfederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West);Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation ofTurkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian LaborFederation or PEO (Communist controlled)
Czech RepublicBohemian and Moravian Trade Union Confederation[Milan STECH]
DenmarkNA
DjiboutiUnion for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includesRPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD(opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed DiniAHMED]
DominicaDominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
Dominican RepublicCollective of Popular Organizations or COP;Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Foundationfor Institution-Building (FINJUS)
East TimorPopular Council for the Defense of the DemocraticRepublic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] islargest political pressure group; it rejects current government andclaims to be rightful government; Kolimau 2000 [leader Dr. BrunoMAGALHAES] is another opposition group; dissatisfied veterans ofstruggle against Indonesia, led by one-time government advisorCornelio GAMA (also known as L-7), also play an important role inpressuring government
EcuadorConfederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador orCONAIE [Luis MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements orCMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists ofEcuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation ofIndigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LACRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
Egyptdespite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties,the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK'spotentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK toleratedlimited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first twoterms, but moved more aggressively since then to block itsinfluence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained inpractical terms; trade unions and professional associations areofficially sanctioned
El Salvadorlabor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of ElSalvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, SimilarTransport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; NationalConfederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union ofSalvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador orSIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers orUSEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union ofElectrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - NationalAssociation of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran AssemblyIndustry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association orASI
Equatorial GuineaNA
EritreaEritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also includingEritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu SihelMovement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (alsoknown as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Frontor ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (acoalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions)[HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]
EstoniaNA
EthiopiaAfar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leaderNA]; Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy inEthiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People'sDemocratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none
Faroe IslandsNA
FijiNA
Francehistorically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale duTravail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique duTravail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed);independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - ForceOuvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collarunion (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members(claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) orMEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)
French GuianaNA
French PolynesiaNA
GabonNA
Gambia, TheNA
GeorgiaGeorgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government inexile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and SouthOssetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
Germanybusiness associations, employers' organizations; expellee,refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
GhanaNA
GibraltarChamber of Commerce; Gibraltar RepresentativesOrganization; Women's Association
GreeceGeneral Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [KhristosPOLYZOGOPOLOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [OdysseasKYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [SpyrosPAPASPYROS]
GreenlandNA
GrenadaNA
GuadeloupeChristian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe orKLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; GeneralUnion of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for IndependentGuadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
GuamNA
GuatemalaAgrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunityor AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committeeof Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associationsor CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM
Guernseynone
GuineaNA
Guinea-BissauNA
GuyanaCivil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council ofIndian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUCnote: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not wellorganized
HaitiAutonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [FignoleST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation ofWorkers Trade Unions or FOS; Group of 184 Civil SocietyOrganization, or G-184 [Andy APAID]; National Popular Assembly orAPN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE];Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman CatholicChurch; Protestant Federation of Haiti
Holy See (Vatican City)none (exclusive of influence exercised bychurch officers)
HondurasCommittee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras orCODEH; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; CoordinatingCommittee of Popular Organizations or CCOP; General WorkersConfederation or CGT; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise orCOHEP; National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH;National Union of Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; UnitedFederation of Honduran Workers or FUTH
Hong KongChinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); ChineseManufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of TradeUnions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEECheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries;Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong,executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the PatrioticDemocratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong andKowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamberof Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNGMan-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center orNWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]
HungaryNA
IcelandNA
Indianumerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greatercommunal and/or regional autonomy, including the All PartiesHurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley and the National SocialistCouncil of Nagaland in the Northeast
IndonesiaNA
Iranpolitical pressure groups conduct most of Iran's politicalactivities; groups that generally support the Islamic Republicinclude Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the Line of theImam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat), IslamicCoalition Party (Motalefeh), and Islamic Engineers Society; activepro-reform student groups include the Organization for StrengtheningUnity; opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, theNational Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various ethnic and Monarchistorganizations; armed political groups that have been almostcompletely repressed by the government include Mujahidin-e KhalqOrganization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of IranianKurdistan, and Komala
Iraqan insurgency against the Iraqi Interim Government andCoalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areaswest and north of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency isled principally by Sunni Arabs whose only common denominator is ashared desire to oust the Coalition and end US influence in Iraq
IrelandNA
IsraelIsraeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the WestBank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions inthe West Bank and Gaza Strip; Yesha (settler) Council promotessettler interests and opposes territorial compromise; B'Tselemmonitors human rights abuses
ItalyItalian manufacturers and merchants associations(Confindustria, Confcommercio); organized farm groups(Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura); Roman Catholic Church; threemajor trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale Italianadel Lavoro or CGIL [Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing,Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [SavinoPEZZOTTA], which is Roman Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana delLavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)
JamaicaNew Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (blackreligious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
JapanNA
Jerseynone
JordanAnti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vicechairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president];Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; MuslimBrotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]
KazakhstanAdil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [NinelFOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN];Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS,executive director]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [IrinaSAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors[Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]
Kenyahuman rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations;National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalitionof political parties and nongovernment organizations [KivuthaKIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK[Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches;Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafural-BUSAIDY]
KiribatiNA
Korea, Northnone
Korea, SouthFederation of Korean Industries; Federation of KoreanTrade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean NationalCouncil of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans'Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National DemocraticAlliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;National Federation of Student Associations
Kuwaitseveral political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists andnationalists
KyrgyzstanCouncil of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on HumanRights [Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement;Union of Entrepreneurs
Laosnoncommunist political groups proscribed; most oppositionleaders fled the country in 1975
LatviaHeadquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
LebanonNA
LesothoNA
LiberiaNA
Libyavarious Arab nationalist movements with almost negligiblememberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as someIslamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,primarily based in London, but has little influence
LiechtensteinNA
LithuaniaNA
LuxembourgABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sectortrade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agriculturalproducers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade unionrepresenting civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber ofCommerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL(federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union);OGBL (center-left trade union)
MacauNA
MacedoniaCivic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA];Movement for Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]
MadagascarCommittee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR;Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; NationalCouncil of Christian Churches or FFKM
MalawiNA
MalaysiaNA
Maldivesnone
MaliPatriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movementand Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
MaltaNA
Man, Isle ofnone
Marshall IslandsNA
MartiniqueCaribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Unionfor Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle;League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP
MauritaniaArab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation ofMauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretarygeneral]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM[Samory Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM[Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]
Mauritiusvarious labor unions
MayotteNA
MexicoConfederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic orCOPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN;Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of NationalChambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign TradeBusiness Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions ProvidingGoods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of TransformationIndustries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC;National Union of Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of MexicanWorkers or CROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasantsor CROC; Roman Catholic Church
MoldovaNA
MonacoNA
MongoliaNA
MontserratNA
MoroccoDemocratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI];General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL];Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; NationalLabor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of MoroccanWorkers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
MozambiqueInstitute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz eDemocracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMOIssa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento paraPaz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (LigaMocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president];Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) orDHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]
NamibiaNA
NauruNA
NepalMaoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, alsoknown as PRAHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from CommunistParty of Nepal/Maoist, chief negotiator]; numerous small,left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radicalNepalese antimonarchist groups
NetherlandsNetherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting ofa merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian TradeUnion Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and HighPersonnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant EmployersAssociations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinationalfirms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
Netherlands AntillesNA
New CaledoniaNA
New ZealandNA
NicaraguaNational Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrellagroup of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association orATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
NigerNA
NigeriaNiger Delta People's Volunteer Force or NDPVF [MujahidDokubo ASARI]; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]
NiueNA
Norfolk Islandnone
Northern Mariana IslandsNA
NorwayNA
Omannone
Pakistanmilitary remains most important political force; ulema(clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants alsoinfluential
PalauNA
PanamaChamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Councilof Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of PrivateEnterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and SimilarWorkers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives orAPEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; WorkersConfederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
Papua New GuineaNA
ParaguayAhorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of NationalCampesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinosor FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan WorkersConfederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Centralor CUT
Peruleftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMANReynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; TupacAmaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]
PhilippinesAKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and RisaHONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and RafaelMARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)[Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; BayanMuna [Reps. Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.];BUHAY [Reps. Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep.Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; GABRIELA[Rep. Liza MAZA]; PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA [Rep. Renato MAGTUBO] (2003)
Pitcairn Islandsnone
PolandAll Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [JanGUZ]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity TradeUnion [Janusz SNIADEK]
PortugalNA
Puerto RicoArmed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; ArmedForces of Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known asthe Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
Qatarnone
ReunionNA
Romaniavarious human rights and professional associations
RussiaNA
RwandaIBUKA - association of genocide survivors
Saint Helenanone
Saint Kitts and NevisNA
Saint LuciaNA
Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNA
SamoaNA
San MarinoNA
Sao Tome and PrincipeNA
Saudi Arabianone
Senegallabor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
Serbia and MontenegroPolitical Council for Presevo, Medvedja andBujanovac or PCPMB [leader NA]; Group for Changes of Montenegro orGZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]
SeychellesRoman Catholic Church; trade unions
Sierra Leonetrade unions and student unions
SingaporeNA
SlovakiaAssociation of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Townsand Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; MetalWorkers Unions or KOVO and METALURG
SloveniaNA
Solomon IslandsNA
Somalianumerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying forpower
South AfricaCongress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU[Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Partyor SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African NationalCivics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, nationalpresident]; note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with theANC
Spainbusiness and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free laborunions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General Union ofWorkers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union orUSO; university students; Trade Union Confederation of Workers'Commissions or CC.OO.; Nunca Mas (Galician for "Never Again"; formedin response to the oil tanker Prestige oil spill)
Sri LankaBuddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting fora separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as theNational Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
SudanDemocratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI];National Democratic Alliance [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI,chairman]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army [Dr. JohnGARANG]; Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]
SurinameAssociation of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
SwazilandNA
SwedenNA
SwitzerlandNA
Syriaconservative religious leaders; Kurdish Democratic Alliance[leader NA]; Kurdish Democratic Front [leader NA]; MuslimBrotherhood (operates in exile in London) [Ali Badr Eddineal-BAYANOUNI]; National Democratic Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]
TaiwanTaiwan independence movement, various business andenvironmental groupsnote: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within themainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalizationand the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan'slegislature have opened public debate on the island's nationalidentity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwancurrently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimateoutcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan'speople must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwanindependence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unifywith mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movementinclude establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering theUN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include theWorld United Formosans for Independence and the Organization forTaiwan Nation Building
Tajikistanthere are three unregistered political parties: AgrarianParty or APT [Hikmatullo NASRIDDINOV]; Progressive Party [SultonQUVVATOV]; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
TanzaniaNA
ThailandNA
TogoNA
Tokelaunone
TongaHuman Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev.Simote VEA, chairman]
Trinidad and TobagoJamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]
Tunisiathe Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), isoutlawed
TurkeyConfederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN];Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [SuleymanCELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Associationor MUSIAD [Omer BOLAT]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [SalimUSLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association orTUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions orTISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is[Salih KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen orTESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce andCommodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]
TurkmenistanNA
Turks and Caicos IslandsNA
Tuvalunone
UgandaPopular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP
UkraineNA
United Arab EmiratesNA
United KingdomCampaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation ofBritish Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress
United StatesNA
UruguayAgrupacion UTE (powerful state worker's union), RuralAssociation of Uruguay (rancher's association), UruguayanConstruction League, Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer'sassociation), Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professionalorganization), Architect's Society of Uruguay (professionalorganization), the Catholic Church, students
UzbekistanAgrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik(Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December1992; Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; FreeFarmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human RightsSociety of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent HumanRights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum[leader NA]
VanuatuNA
VenezuelaFEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOSgroups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labororganization dominated by the Democratic Action)
Vietnamnone
Virgin IslandsNA
Wallis and FutunaNA
Western Saharanone
YemenNA
ZambiaNA
ZimbabweNational Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU];Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Brian KAGORO]; Zimbabwe Congress ofTrade Unions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2116 Economy - overview
AfghanistanAfghanistan's economic outlook has improvedsignificantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 becauseof the infusion of over $2 billion in international assistance,recovery of the agricultural sector, and the reestablishment ofmarket institutions. Agriculture boomed in 2003 with the end of afour-year drought, but drought conditions returned for the southernhalf of the country in 2004. Despite the progress of the past fewyears, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highlydependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboringcountries. It will probably take the remainder of the decade andcontinuing donor aid and attention to raise Afghanistan's livingstandards up from its current status among the lowest in the world.Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages ofhousing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs, but theAfghan government and international donors remain committed toimproving access to these basic necessities by prioritizinginfrastructure development, education, housing development, jobsprograms, and economic reform over the next year. Growing politicalstability and continued international commitment to Afghanreconstruction create an optimistic outlook for maintainingimprovements in the Afghan economy in 2005. Expanding poppycultivation and a growing opium trade may account for one-third ofGDP and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policy challenges.
AkrotiriEconomic activity is limited to providing services to themilitary and their families located in Akrotiri. All food andmanufactured goods must be imported.
AlbaniaPoor and backward by European standards, Albania is makingthe difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Thegovernment has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spureconomic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annualremittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece andItaly; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture,which accounts for about one-half of GDP, is held back because offrequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarifyproperty rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energyshortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make itdifficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The plannedconstruction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improvedtransmission and distribution facilities will help relieve theenergy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improvethe poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier tosustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strongin 2003 and 2004, the nation has important oil and gas reserves, andinflation is not a problem.
AlgeriaThe hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over95% of export earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves ofnatural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; itranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recentyears, along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF,have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomicindicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses andbuilding up record foreign exchange reserves. Real GDP has risen dueto higher oil output and increased government spending. Thegovernment's continued efforts to diversify the economy byattracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energysector, however, has had little success in reducing highunemployment and improving living standards. Structural reformwithin the economy moves ahead slowly.
American SamoaThis is a traditional Polynesian economy in whichmore than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity isstrongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts mostof its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants arethe backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primaryexport. Transfers from the US Government add substantially toAmerican Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government todevelop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa'sremote location, its limited transportation, and its devastatinghurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.
AndorraTourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million touristsvisit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by itssummer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage hasrecently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spainhave been opened up, providing broader availability of goods andlower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, alsocontributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production islimited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to beimported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising.Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, andfurniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and istreated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
AngolaAngola has been an economy in disarray because of a quartercentury of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peacewas established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI inFebruary 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue includingthe impact of widespread land mines. Subsistence agricultureprovides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oilproduction and the supporting activities are vital to the economy,contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of exports. Much ofthe country's food must still be imported. To fully take advantageof its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests,Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need tocontinue reforming government policies and to reduce corruption.While Angola made progress in further lowering inflation, from 325%in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to makesufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such asincreasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greatertransparency in government spending. Increased oil productionsupported 7% GDP growth in 2003 and 12% growth in 2004.
AnguillaAnguilla has few natural resources, and the economy dependsheavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, andremittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourismindustry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have putsubstantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for theeconomy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, onrevived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as onfavorable weather conditions.
AntarcticaFishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad,account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in2000-01 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons.Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is aserious problem. The Convention on the Conservation of AntarcticMarine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits formarine species. A total of 13,571 tourists visited in the 2002-03antarctic summer, up from the 11,588 visitors the previous year.Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental)ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Mosttourist trips last approximately two weeks.
Antigua and BarbudaTourism continues to dominate the economy,accounting for more than half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numberssince early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed thegovernment into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation'sagricultural production is focused on the domestic market andconstrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemmingfrom the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction.Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with majorproducts being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components.Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue todepend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially inthe US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of touristarrivals.
Arctic OceanEconomic activity is limited to the exploitation ofnatural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
ArgentinaArgentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highlyliterate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and adiversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, thecountry has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capitalflight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, asboth domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of thegovernment's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixedexchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massivewithdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer andinvestor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit,"to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growthproved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. Thepeso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the pesowas floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and real GDP fellby 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeitat a lower level. GDP expanded by more than 8% in 2003 and again in2004, with unemployment falling and inflation remaining in singledigits.
ArmeniaUnder the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia haddeveloped a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools,textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics inexchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of theUSSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scaleagriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of theSoviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for moreinvestment and updated technology. The privatization of industry hasbeen at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by thecurrent administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineraldeposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflictwith Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region ofNagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economicsystem of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economicdecline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the ArmenianGovernment had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economicliberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also hasmanaged to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram),and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronicenergy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s havebeen offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear powerplants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, althoughit does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor,which is under international pressure to close. The electricitydistribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe tradeimbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid and foreigndirect investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close,especially in the energy sector.
ArubaTourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy,with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important.The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade hasresulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force andexceptionally low unemployment rate have led to a large number ofunfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recentyears. Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now mustdeal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsno economic activity
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's mostheavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern andWestern Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes theexploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging ofaragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil andnatural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
AustraliaAustralia has an enviable Western-style capitalisteconomy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant WestEuropean economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robustbusiness and consumer confidence, and rising exports of rawmaterials and agricultural products are fueling the economy.Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing tieswith China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. Theimpact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demandpushed the trade deficit up from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billionin 2003, and to $13 billion in 2004. One other concern is the rapidincrease in domestic housing prices, which have raised the prospectthat interest rates will need to be raised to prevent a speculativebubble.
AustriaAustria, with its well-developed market economy and highstandard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies,especially Germany's. The economy features up-to-date industrial andagricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land areabeing forested. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreigninvestors attracted by Austria's access to the single Europeanmarket and proximity to the new EU economies. Slow growth in Europehas held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, 0.8% in2003, and 1.9% in 2004. To meet increased competition from both EUand Central European countries, particularly the new EU members,Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of theeconomy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encouragemuch greater participation in the labor market by its agingpopulation. The aging phenomenon, together with already high healthand pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfarepolicies.
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oilproduction declined through 1997 but has registered an increaseevery year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements(PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billionto long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds neededto spur future industrial development. Oil production under thefirst of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International OperatingCompany, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all theformidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making thetransition from a command to a market economy, but its considerableenergy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has onlyrecently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economicties and structures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle toeconomic progress is the need for stepped up foreign investment inthe non-energy sector. A second obstacle is the continuing conflictwith Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia andthe other former Soviet republics is declining in importance whiletrade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-termprospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of newpipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oilwealth.
Bahamas, TheThe Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with aneconomy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourismalone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectlyemploys half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth intourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts,and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but theslowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 heldback growth in these sectors in 2001-03. Financial servicesconstitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy,accounting for about 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, whenthe government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, manyinternational businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing andagriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP andshow little growth, despite government incentives aimed at thosesectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily onthe fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in theUS, the source of more than 80% of the visitors. In addition totourism and banking, the government supports the development of a"third pillar," e-commerce.
BahrainIn well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refiningaccount for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of governmentrevenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communicationand transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinationalfirms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consist ofpetroleum products made from refining imported crude. Constructionproceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment,especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and undergroundwater resources are major long-term economic problems. In September2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UnitedStates - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Bothcountries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced.
Baker Islandno economic activity
BangladeshDespite sustained domestic and international efforts toimprove economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains apoor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDPis generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds ofBangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice asthe single-most-important product. Major impediments to growthinclude frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-ownedenterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing laborforce that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploitingenergy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, andslow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalledin many instances by political infighting and corruption at alllevels of government. Progress also has been blocked by oppositionfrom the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vestedinterest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister KhaledaZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in keyareas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for thepast several years.
BarbadosHistorically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent onsugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production inrecent years has diversified into light industry and tourism.Offshore finance and information services are important foreignexchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduceunemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and toprivatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contractedin 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth probably waspositive in 2004, as economic conditions in the US and Europemoderately improved.