f:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, CIPEC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador TATANENE Manata; Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 234-7690 or 7691

:Zaire Government

US:
Ambassador Melissa F. WELLS; Embassy at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
(mailing address is APO AE 09828); telephone [243] (12) 21532, 21628; FAX
[243] (12) 21232; the US Consulate General in Lubumbashi was closed and
evacuated in October 1991 because of the poor security situation
Flag:
light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a
red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist
side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

:Zaire Economy

Overview:
In 1990, in spite of large mineral resources Zaire had a GDP per capita of
only about $260, putting it among the desperately poor African nations. The
country's chronic economic problems worsened in 1991, with copper and cobalt
production down 20-30%, inflation near 8,000% in 1991 as compared with 100%
in 1987-89, and IMF and most World Bank support suspended until the
institution of agreed-on changes. Agriculture, a key sector of the economy,
employs 75% of the population but generates under 25% of GDP. The main
potential for economic development has been the extractive industries.
Mining and mineral processing account for about one-third of GDP and
three-quarters of total export earnings. Zaire is the world's largest
producer of diamonds and cobalt.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, per capita $260; real growth rate
-3% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8,000% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $685 million; expenditures $1.1 billion, does not include capital
expenditures mostly financed by donors (1990)
Exports:
$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
commodities:
copper 37%, coffee 24%, diamonds 12%, cobalt, crude oil
partners:
US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa
Imports:
$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
commodities:
consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machiner