FAX: (868) 628-5462

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side

Trinidad and Tobago Economy

Economy - overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Persistently high unemployment remains one of the chief challenges of the government. The petrochemical sector has spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is growing, especially in the pleasure boat sector. New investment and construction also will continue to drive the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2%

industry: 44%

services: 54% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 21% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 558,700 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12.8% (2000)

Budget: revenues: $1.54 billion

expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (1998)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (2000)

Electricity - production: 4.9 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.59%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0.41% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: 4.557 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports - partners: US 39.3%, Caricom countries 26.1%, Latin America 9.5%, EU 5.7% (1999)

Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals

Imports - partners: US 39.8%, Venezuela 11.9%, EU 11%, Caricom 4.8% (1999)

Debt - external: $2.8 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $121.4 million (1995)

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Currency code: TTD

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2688 (January 2001), 6.2998 (2000), 6.2989 (1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Trinidad and Tobago Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 243,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 17,411 (1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: excellent international service; good local service

domestic: NA

international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: 680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)

Televisions: 425,000 (1997)

Internet country code: .tt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 17 (2000)

Internet users: 30,000 (2000)

Trinidad and Tobago Transportation

Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968

Highways: total: 8,320 km

paved: 4,252 km

unpaved: 4,068 km (1996)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km

Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora

Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,439
GRT/4,040 DWT

ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: 6 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago Military

Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes
Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 346,043 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 247,297 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $83 million (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%

Trinidad and Tobago Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

@Tromelin Island

Tromelin Island Introduction

Background: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Tromelin Island Geography

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1 sq km

land: 1 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3.7 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: tropical

Terrain: low, flat, and sandy

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 100% (scattered bushes)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Tromelin Island People

Population: uninhabited (July 2001 est.)

Tromelin Island Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Tromelin Island

local long form: none

local short form: Ile Tromelin

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Tromelin Island Economy

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Tromelin Island Communications

Communications - note: important meteorological station

Tromelin Island Transportation

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Tromelin Island Military

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Tromelin Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius

@Tunisia

Tunisia Introduction

Background: Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGIUBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to diffuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Tunisia Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 163,610 sq km

land: 155,360 sq km

water: 8,250 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km

border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use: arable land: 19%

permanent crops: 13%

permanent pastures: 20%

forests and woodland: 4%

other: 44% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Tunisia People

Population: 9,705,102 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.74% (male 1,440,636; female 1,348,133)

15-64 years: 65.12% (male 3,157,988; female 3,161,596)

65 years and over: 6.14% (male 296,930; female 299,819) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.15% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 29.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.92 years

male: 72.35 years

female: 75.62 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s)

adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 66.7%

male: 78.6%

female: 54.6% (1995 est.)

Tunisia Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia

conventional short form: Tunisia

local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form: Tunis

Government type: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja
(Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), El Kef (Al Kaf),
Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al
Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Mahdia (Al
Mahdiyah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul
(Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana
(Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar),
Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)

head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI nearly 100%

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party - RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats; the opposition increased number of seats from 19 to 34

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders: Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS [Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH,
MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Hatem ATALLAH

chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone: (202) 862-1850

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Rust DEMMING

embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: (1) 782-566