Ambassador Derek BURNEY; Chancery at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20001; telephone (202) 682-1740; there are Canadian Consulates General in
Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle
US:
Ambassador Peter TEELEY; Embassy at 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
(mailing address is P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430); telephone
(613) 238-5335 or (613) 238-4470; FAX (613) 238-5720; there are US
Consulates General in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and
Vancouver
Flag:
three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and
red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
:Canada Economy
Overview:
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles
the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of
production. Since World War II the impressive growth of the manufacturing,
mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural
economy into one primarily industrial and urban. In the 1980s, Canada
registered one of the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations,
averaging about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force,
and modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects. However,
the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking
areas has observers discussing a possible split in the confederation;
foreign investors are becoming edgy.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $521.5 billion, per capita $19,400; real
growth rate -1.1% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (November 1991, annual rate)
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (November 1991)
Budget:
revenues $111.8 billion; expenditures $138.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)
Exports:
$124.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas,
aluminum, motor vehicles and parts; telecommunications equipment
partners:
US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports:
$118 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
crude petroleum, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer
goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and parts
partners:
US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
External debt:
$247 billion (1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate -3.8% (August 1991); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
106,464,000 kW capacity; 479,600 million kWh produced, 17,872 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products,
transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural
gas
Agriculture:
accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers and
exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US agricultural
imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial
fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is
exported
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of
hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of
high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin
and cocaine entering the US market
:Canada Economy
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion
Currency:
Canadian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.1565 (January 1992), 1.1457 (1991),
1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Canada Communications
Railroads:
93,544 km total; two major transcontinental freight railway systems -
Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger
service - VIA (government operated)
Highways:
884,272 km total; 712,936 km surfaced (250,023 km paved), 171,336 km earth
Inland waterways:
3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines:
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports:
Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's
(Newfoundland), Toronto, Vancouver
Merchant marine:
70 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 500,904 GRT/727,118 DWT; includes 1
passenger, 3 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 10 cargo, 2 railcar
carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 28 petroleum
tanker, 5 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 8 bulk; note - does not
include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
Civil air:
636 major transport aircraft; Air Canada is the major carrier
Airports:
1,416 total, 1,168 usable; 455 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with
runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 338 with runways
1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
excellent service provided by modern media; 18.0 million telephones;
broadcast stations - 900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters) TV; 5 coaxial
submarine cables; over 300 earth stations operating in INTELSAT (including 4
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic systems
:Canada Defense Forces
Branches:
Canadian Armed Forces (including Mobile Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Communications Command, Canadian Forces Europe, Training Commands),
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 7,366,675; 6,387,459 fit for military service; 190,752 reach
military age (17) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $11.4 billion, 1.7% of GDP (FY91); $10.5 billion,
NA% of GDP (FY 92)
:Cape Verde Geography
Total area:
4,030 km2
Land area:
4,030 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
965 km
Maritime claims:
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic
Terrain:
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Natural resources:
salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land 9%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and
woodland NEGL%; other 85%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility;
volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing
Note:
strategic location 500 km from African coast near major north-south sea
routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling
site
:Cape Verde People
Population:
398,276 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
48 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
- 8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
61 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
60 years male, 64 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Cape Verdean(s); adjective - Cape Verdean
Ethnic divisions:
Creole (mulatto) about 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
Languages:
Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words
Literacy:
66% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
Labor force:
102,000 (1985 est.); agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%,
industry 14% (1981); 51% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor:
Trade Unions of Cape Verde Unity Center (UNTC-CS)
:Cape Verde Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Cape Verde
Type:
republic
Capital:
Praia
Administrative divisions:
14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio,
Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz,
Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981, December 1988, and 28 September
1990 (legalized opposition parties)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy minister, secretaries of state, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (since 22 March 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and
chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona
Rodrigues PIRES, chairman
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
People's National Assembly:
last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note - this
multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule
President:
last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results -
Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (MPD) received 72.6% of vote
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA; Chancery at 3415 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 965-6820; there is a Cape
Verdean Consulate General in Boston
US:
Ambassador Francis T. (Terry) McNAMARA; Embassy at Rua Hoji Ya Henda Yenna
81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia); telephone [238] 61-43-63 or
61-42-53; FAX [238] 61-13-55
:Cape Verde Government
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red
band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is a black
five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell; uses
the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
Guinea-Bissau, which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in
the red band
:Cape Verde Economy
Overview:
Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a
17-year drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service oriented, with
commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 65% of GDP during
the period 1985-88. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural
areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the fishing sector accounts
for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly
lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only
3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by
remittances from emigrants and foreign aid. Economic reforms launched by the
new democratic government in February 1991 are aimed at developing the
private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $310 million, per capita $800; real growth rate
4% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1988)
Budget:
revenues $98.3 million; expenditures $138.4 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
Exports:
$10.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
commodities:
fish, bananas, salt
partners:
Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)
Imports:
$107.8 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products
partners:
Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%, Netherlands, US
(1990 est.)
External debt:
$150 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
15,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction
materials, food and beverage production
Agriculture:
accounts for 16% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; bananas are the only
export crop; other crops - corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth
potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and limited rainfall;
annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic
consumption and small exports
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-89), $88 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $537 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $36
million
Currency:
Cape Verdean escudo (plural - escudos); 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100
centavos
:Cape Verde Economy
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 71.28 (March 1992), 71.41 (1991),
64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Cape Verde Communications
Ports:
Mindelo, Praia
Merchant marine:
7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT
Civil air:
3 major transport aircraft
Airports:
6 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
interisland radio relay system, high-frequency radio to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; over 1,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 1 TV;
2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Cape Verde Defense Forces
Branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) - Army and Navy are separate
components of FARP; Security Service
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 72,916; 43,010 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
:Cayman Islands Geography
Total area:
260 km2
Land area:
260 km2
Comparative area:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively
dry winters (November to April)
Terrain:
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 8%; forest and
woodland 23%; other 69%
Environment:
within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Note:
important location between Cuba and Central America
:Cayman Islands People
Population:
29,139 (July 1992), growth rate 4.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
16 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
33 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
75 years male, 79 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Caymanian(s); adjective - Caymanian
Ethnic divisions:
40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of various ethnic groups
Religions:
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman
Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever attended school
(1970)
Labor force:
8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance
and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Organized labor:
Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union
:Cayman Islands Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
George Town
Administrative divisions:
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West
End, Western
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
1959, revised 1972
Legal system:
British common law and local statutes
National holiday:
Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Michael
GORE (since May 1992)
Head of Government:
Governor and President of the Executive Council Alan James SCOTT (since NA
1987)
Political parties and leaders:
no formal political parties
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), CDB, IOC
Diplomatic representation:
as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are
represented by the UK
US:
none
Flag:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom
bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
:Cayman Islands Economy
Overview:
The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export
earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed
at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America.
About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported.
The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $384 million, per capita $14,500 (1989); real
growth rate 8% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $83.6 million; expenditures $98.9 million, including capital
expenditures of $13.6 million (1990)
Exports:
$1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners:
mostly US
Imports:
$136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners:
US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt:
$15 million (1986)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 9,313 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials,
furniture making
Agriculture:
minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
Caymanian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 1.20 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Cayman Islands Communications
Highways:
160 km of main roads
Ports:
George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine:
32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 364,174 GRT/560,241 DWT; includes 1
passenger-cargo, 7 cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 petroleum tanker, 1
chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 5 bulk, 2
combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Civil air:
2 major transport aircraft
Airports:
3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access
international services; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
:Cayman Islands Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
:Central African Republic Geography
Total area:
622,980 km2
Land area:
622,980 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
5,203 km; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km,
Zaire 1,577 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain:
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and
southwest
Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:
arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and
woodland 64%; other 28%
Environment:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has
diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
Note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
:Central African Republic People
Population:
3,029,080 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
43 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
18 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
135 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
46 years male, 49 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
5.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Central African(s); adjective - Central African
Ethnic divisions:
about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have related ethnic and
linguistic characteristics; Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%,
Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are French
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%,
other 11%; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian
majority
Languages:
French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national language); Arabic,
Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:
27% (male 33%, female 15%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
775,413 (1986 est.); agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%,
government 3%; about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working
age (1985)
Organized labor:
1% of labor force
:Central African Republic Government