ulates General in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, and a Consulate in
New Orleans
US:
Ambassador Richard C. BROWN; Embassy at Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
(mailing address is APO AA 34035); telephone [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77;
FAX [598] (2) 48-86-11
Flag:
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with
blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow
sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately
triangular and wavy

:Uruguay Economy

Overview:
The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession of the early 1980s.
In 1988 real GDP grew by only 0.5% and in 1989 by 1.5%. The recovery was led
by growth in the agriculture and fishing sectors, agriculture alone
contributing 20% to GDP, employing about 11% of the labor force, and
generating a large proportion of export earnings. Raising livestock,
particularly cattle and sheep, is the major agricultural activity. In 1991,
domestic growth improved somewhat over 1990, but various government factors,
including concentration on the external sector, adverse weather conditions,
and greater attention to bringing down inflation and reducing the fiscal
deficit kept output from expanding rapidly. In a major step toward greater
regional economic cooperation, Uruguay joined Brazil, Argentina, and
Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). President
LACALLE continues to press ahead with a broad economic reform plan to reduce
state intervention in the economy, but he faces strong opposition.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $9.1 billion, per capita $2,935; real growth rate
2.3% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
60% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.5% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $165 million (1988)
Exports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%
partners:
Brazil, US, Argentina, Germany
Imports:
$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
fuels and lubricants 15%, metals, machinery, transportation equipment,
industrial chemicals
partners:
Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)
External debt:
$4.2 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate