GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.22 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.911 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$33,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.6% industry: 25.3% services: 73.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 66.44 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7% (2004)
Unemployment rate:4.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38.12 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.411 trillionexpenditures: $1.639 trillion; including capital expenditures(public works only) of about $71 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:175.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairyproducts, eggs; fish
Industries:among world's largest and technologically advanced producers ofmotor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel andnonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:3.3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:974.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8% other: 1.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:906.2 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:120,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:5.353 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:93,360 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:5.449 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:29.29 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:2.957 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:83.55 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:81.23 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:39.64 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$174.4 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$590.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electricalmachinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 22.9%, China 13.4%, South Korea 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, Hong Kong6.1% (2005)
Imports:$524.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,raw materials (2001)
Imports - partners:China 21%, US 12.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, UAE 4.9%, Australia 4.7%,South Korea 4.7%, Indonesia 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$864.7 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.547 trillion (30 June 2006)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $8.9 billion (2004)
Currency (code):yen (JPY)
Currency code:JPY
Exchange rates:yen per US dollar - 116.175 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004),115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:58.78 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:94.745 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service ofevery kindinternational: country code - 81; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Oceanregions); submarine cables to China, Philippines, Russia, and US(via Guam) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21(2001)
Radios:120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 211 plus 7,341 repeaters note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)
Televisions:86.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.jp
Internet hosts:28,321,846 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):73 (2000)
Internet users:86.3 million (2005)
Transportation Japan
Airports: 175 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 30 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports:15 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 8,015 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2006)
Railways:total: 23,556 kmstandard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,264 km1.067-m gauge (13,280 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 kmelectrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 1.183 million kmpaved: 925,000 km (including 6,946 km of expressways)unpaved: 258,000 km (2003)
Waterways:1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 683 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,415,892 GRT/11,765,038 DWTby type: bulk carrier 134, cargo 30, chemical tanker 20, container11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 149, petroleumtanker 156, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 51, vehiclecarrier 56registered in other countries: 2,459 (Australia 1, Bahamas 51,Belize 2, Burma 4, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 1, China 3, Cyprus 17,French Southern and Antarctic Lands 4, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 67,Indonesia 3, Isle of Man 4, South Korea 1, Liberia 102, Malaysia 4,Malta 1, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2007,Philippines 26, Portugal 9, Singapore 100, Sweden 2, Thailand 4,Vanuatu 28, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Chiba, Kawasaki, Kiire, Kisarazu, Kobe, Mizushima, Nagoya, Osaka,Tokyo, Yohohama
Military Japan
Military branches:Japanese Defense Agency (JDA): Ground Self-Defense Force (RikujouJietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai, MSDF),Air Self-Defense Force (Nihon Koku-Jieitai, ASDF) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 27,003,112females age 18-49: 26,153,482 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 22,234,663females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 683,147females age 18-49: 650,157 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$44.31 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Japan
Disputes - international:the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, andShikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "NorthernTerritories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupiedby the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimedby Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peacetreaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and SouthKorea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by SouthKorea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims tothe uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) andJapan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the EastChina Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Jersey
Introduction Jersey
Background:Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants ofthe medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France andEngland. These islands were the only British soil occupied by Germantroops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency, but isnot part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionallyresponsible for defense and international representation.
Geography Jersey
Location:Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 116 sq kmland: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:70 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% ofpopulation concentrated in Saint Helier
People Jersey
Population:91,084 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.2% (male 8,139/female 7,552)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,407/female 30,691)65 years and over: 15.7% (male 6,299/female 7,996) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 41.4 yearsmale: 40.7 yearsfemale: 42.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.28% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.38 yearsmale: 76.89 yearsfemale: 82.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Channel Islander(s)adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Jersey
Country name:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jerseyconventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:British crown dependency
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Saint Heliergeographic coordinates: 49 12 N, 2 07 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:none (British crown dependency); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence:none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:English law and local statute; justice is administered by the RoyalCourt
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June2006)head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister areelected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary;lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (55 voting members - 12senators (elected for six-year terms), 12 constables or heads ofparishes (elected for three-year terms), 29 deputies (elected forthree-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and threenon-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, andthe Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November2005 for deputies (next to be held in 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders: two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of theflag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a redshield with the three lions of England in yellow
Economy Jersey
Economy - overview:Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted forabout 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly tothe UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide andrepresents an important export income earner. Milk products go tothe UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter ofGDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industryto locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industryhas developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear.All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as alarge share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death dutiesmake the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close tothose of the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.6 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$40,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 2% services: 93% (1996)
Labor force:52,790 (2004)
Unemployment rate:0.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.3% (2004)
Budget:revenues: $601 millionexpenditures: $588 million; including capital expenditures of $98million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - consumption:630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:UK (2004)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:UK (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$0
Currency (code):British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound
Currency code:GBP
Exchange rates:Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), note, the Jersey pound is atpar with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:73,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:83,900 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.je
Internet hosts:1,240 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:27,000 (2005)
Transportation Jersey
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 577 km
Ports and terminals:Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military Jersey
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Jersey
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Jordan
Introduction Jordan
Background:Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire,the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britainseparated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestinein the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; itadopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time rulerwas King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfullynavigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, andUK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinianpopulation, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 hereinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual politicalliberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. KingABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne followinghis father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidatedhis power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program.Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began toparticipate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After atwo-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections took place inthe summer of 2003. The prime minister appointed in November 2005stated the government would focus on political reforms, improvingconditions for the poor, and fighting corruption.
Geography Jordan
Location:Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 92,300 sq kmland: 91,971 sq kmwater: 329 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 1,635 kmborder countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great RiftValley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Dead Sea -408 mhighest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use: arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:750 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arabcountry that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupiedWest Bank
People Jordan
Population:5,906,760 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,018,070/female 976,442)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 1,966,794/female 1,716,255)65 years and over: 3.9% (male 111,636/female 117,563) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 23 yearsmale: 23.7 yearsfemale: 22.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.49% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:21.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:2.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 20.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.4 yearsmale: 75.9 yearsfemale: 81.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.63 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jordanian(s)adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but someGreek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (severalsmall Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middleclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.3%male: 95.9%female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
Government Jordan
Country name:conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordanconventional short form: Jordanlocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyahlocal short form: Al Urdunformer: Transjordan
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Ammangeographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends lastFriday in September
Administrative divisions:12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, AzZarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:1 January 1952; amended 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1965, 1973, 1974,1976, 1984
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review oflegislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); PrinceHUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH, is first in lineto inherit the thronehead of government: Prime Minister Marouf al-BAKHIT (since 24November 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ziad FARIZ (since 24 November2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultationwith the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of theSenate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (55seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categoriesof public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the Chamber ofDeputies, also called the House of Representatives (Majlisal-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basisof proportional representation to serve four-year terms); note - sixseats are reserved for women and are allocated by a specialelectoral panel if no women are electedelections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 17 June 2003 (next to beheld in 2007)election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -independents and other 84.6%, IAF 15.4%; seats by party -independents and other 88, IAF 16; note - six women were appointedto fill the woman's quota seats, including one female member of theIAF; two IAF members were expelled from the Chamber of Deputies in2006
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR,president]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN, secretarygeneral]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretarygeneral]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR, secretarygeneral]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF[Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID, secretary general]; Islamic Center Party[Marwan al-FAURI, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party;Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian Arab Party; JordanianCitizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party [MunirHAMARINAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary general];Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA,secretary general]; Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH,secretary general]; Jordanian Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH,secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman JiryisHANNA, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People'sCommittees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd)[Ahmad YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Rafah Party; JordanianRenaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH,secretary general]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI,secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul HadiMAJALI, secretary general]; National Popular Democratic Movement[Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Progressive Party [Fawwazal-ZUBI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vicechairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman];Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; MuslimBrotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, OIC, ONUB, OPCW,OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL,UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David M. HALE embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing theAbbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, andgreen, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangleon the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, andbearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the sevenverses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the sevenpoints on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, nationalspirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design isbased on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Economy Jordan
Economy - overview:Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of water,oil, and other natural resources. Debt, poverty, and unemploymentare fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH, since assuming thethrone in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in along-term effort to improve living standards. Since Jordan'sgraduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman hascontinued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetarypolicy, and making substantial headway with privatization. Thegovernment also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently tosecure Jordan's membership in the WTO (2000), a free trade accordwith the US (2001), and an association agreement with the EU (2001).These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordanon the foreign investment map. Jordan imported most of its oil fromIraq, but the US-led war in Iraq in 2003 made Jordan more dependenton oil from other Gulf nations, and has forced the JordanianGovernment to raise retail petroleum product prices and the salestax base. Jordan's export market, which is heavily dependent onexports to Iraq, was also affected by the war but recovered quicklywhile contributing to the Iraq recovery effort. The main challengesfacing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducingthe budget deficit, and creating investment incentives to promotejob creation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$28.89 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$12.32 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.5% services: 65.9% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.512 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5% industry: 12.5% services: 82.5% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.191 billionexpenditures: $5.305 billion; including capital expenditures of$1.092 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:79.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,poultry
Industries:textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleumrefining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:8.431 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.387 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:4 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:550 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:107,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:100,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:445,000 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:310 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.41 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:6.23 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.834 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$4.798 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers,vegetables, manufactures
Exports - partners:US 26.2%, Iraq 17.1%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, Syria 4.7%(2005)
Imports:$10.42 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 23.6%, China 9.2%, Germany 8%, US 5.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.55 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$9.071 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:JOD
Exchange rates:Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709(2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:628,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,012,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: service has improved recently with increaseduse of digital switching equipment, but better access to thetelephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access topay telephones is needed by the urban publicdomestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial andfiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use ofmobile cellular systems; Internet service is availableinternational: country code - 962; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals;fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay linkwith Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cableFLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL;international links total about 4,000
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:1.66 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:500,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.jo
Internet hosts:3,441 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:629,500 (2005)
Transportation Jordan
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2006)
Railways:total: 505 kmnarrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 7,500 kmpaved: 7,500 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 25 ships (1000 GRT or over) 346,698 GRT/501,060 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, container 2, passenger/cargo 6,petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4foreign-owned: 11 (UAE 11)registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 2, Panama 13) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Al 'Aqabah
Military Jordan
Military branches:Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, RoyalJordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiyaal-Malakiya al-Urduniya), Special Operations Command (Socom); PublicSecurity Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, butcomes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,573,995females age 17-49: 1,346,642 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,348,076females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 60,625females age 17-49: 58,218 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.4 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:11.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Jordan
Disputes - international:2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees(UNRWA)), 700,000 (Iraq)IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Kazakhstan
Introduction Kazakhstan
Background:Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes whomigrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united asa single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18thcentury, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizenswere encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures.This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some otherdeported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enablednon-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused manyof these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing acohesive national identity; expanding the development of thecountry's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, andmining sectors; and strengthening relations with neighboring statesand other foreign powers.
Geography Kazakhstan
Location:Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the UralRiver in eastern-most Europe
Geographic coordinates:48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 2,717,300 sq kmland: 2,669,800 sq kmwater: 47,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 12,012 kmborder countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, nowsplit into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea(1,894 km)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain:extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plainsin western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 mhighest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources:major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead,zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use:arable land: 8.28%permanent crops: 0.05%other: 91.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:35,560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment - current issues:radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defenseindustries and test ranges scattered throughout the country posehealth risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severein some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into theAral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up andleaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and naturalsalts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blowninto noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soilpollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination frompoor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territoryenclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan andRussia extended the lease to 2050
People Kazakhstan
Population:15,233,244 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (male 1,792,685/female 1,717,294)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 5,122,027/female 5,357,819)65 years and over: 8.2% (male 438,541/female 804,878) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 28.8 yearsmale: 27.2 yearsfemale: 30.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.33% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 32.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.89 yearsmale: 61.56 yearsfemale: 72.52 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:16,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Kazakhstani(s)adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups:Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%,German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)
Religions:Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages:Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used ineveryday business, designated the "language of interethniccommunication") 95% (2001 est.)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%male: 99.1%female: 97.7% (1999 est.)
Government Kazakhstan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstanconventional short form: Kazakhstanlocal long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasylocal short form: Qazaqstanformer: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little poweroutside the executive branch
Capital:name: Astanageographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 30 Etime difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)note: Kazakhstan is divided into three time zones
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qala,singular - qalasy); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy(Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, BatysQazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy(Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy,Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, ShyghysQazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy(Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)note: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments ofKazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia wouldlease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing theBaykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr(Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended thelease to 2050
Independence:16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution:first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; newconstitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of theSupreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December1991)head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January2007); Deputy Prime Minister Aslan MUSIN (since 11 January 2007)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(two term limit); election last held 4 December 2005 (next to beheld in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime ministerappointed by the presidentelection results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.TUYAKBAI 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAIMENOV 1.6%note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 thatextended his term of office and expanded his presidential powers:only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismissthe government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at hisdiscretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (39 seats; 7 senatorsare appointed by the president; other members are elected by localgovernment bodies, 2 from each of the 14 oblasts, the capital ofAstana, and the city of Almaty, to serve six-year terms; note -formerly composed of 47 seats) and the Mazhilis (77 seats; 10 out ofthe 77 Mazhilis members are elected from the winning party's lists;members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - (indirect) last held December 2005; next to beheld in 2011; Mazhilis - last held 19 September and 3 October 2004(next to be held in September 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; candidates nominated by local councils; Mazhilis -percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Otan 42, AIST 11,ASAR (All Together) 4, Aq Zhol (Bright Path) 1, Democratic Party 1(party refused to take the seat due to criticism of the election andseat remained unoccupied), independent 18; note - most independentcandidates are affiliated with parastatal enterprises and otherpro-government institutions
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders:Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, co-chair, ZeynullaALSHIMBAYEV, co-chair, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, co-chair, YerkinONGARBAYEV, co-chair, Tolegan SYDYKOV, co-chair] (formerlyDemocratic Party of Kazakhstan); Aq Zhol Party (Bright Path)[Alikhan BAIMENOV, chairman]; AUL (Village) [Gani KALIYEV,chairman]; Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [SerikbolsynABDILDIN, first secretary]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan[Vladislav KOSAREV, first secretary]; Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV,acting chairman] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged withOtan); Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV, chairman]; Rukhaniyat(Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA, chairwoman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA];Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For a JustKazakhstan [Bolat ABILOV]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS,Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; KazakhstanInternational Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executivedirector]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAI]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [IrinaSAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors[Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kanat B. SAUDABAYEVchancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAYembassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [7] (3172) 70-21-00FAX: [7] (3172) 34-08-90
Flag description:sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sunwith 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; onthe hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold
Economy Kazakhstan
Economy - overview:Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics interritory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reservesand plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has alarge agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain.Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction andprocessing of these natural resources and also on a growingmachine-building sector specializing in construction equipment,tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. Thebreakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand forKazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in ashort-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annualdecline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the governmentprogram of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting ina substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstanenjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - 8% or more per year in2002-06 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also toeconomic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. The openingof the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from westernKazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raisedexport capacity. Kazakhstan in 2006 completed the Atasu-Alashankouportion of an oil pipeline to China that is planned to extend fromthe country's Caspian coast eastward to the Chinese border in futureconstruction. The country has embarked upon an industrial policydesigned to diversify the economy away from overdependence on theoil sector by developing light industry. The policy aims to reducethe influence of foreign investment and foreign personnel. Thegovernment has engaged in several disputes with foreign oilcompanies over the terms of production agreements; tensionscontinue. Upward pressure on the local currency continued in 2006due to massive oil-related foreign-exchange inflows.