c representation:
Ambassador Ernst JAAKSON, Legation of Estonia, Office of Consulate General,
9 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1421, New York, NY 10020; telephone (212)
247-1450
:Estonia Government
US:
Ambassador Robert C. FRASURE; Embassy at Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001;
telephone 011-[358] (49) 303-182 (cellular); FAX [358] (49) 306-817
(cellular); note - dialing to Baltics still requires use of an international
operator unless you use the cellular phone lines
Flag:
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990; flag is three equal
horizontal bands of blue, black, and white
:Estonia Economy
Overview:
Starting in July 1991, under a new law on private ownership, small
enterprises, such as retail shops and restaurants, were sold to private
owners. The auctioning of large-scale enterprises is now in progress with
the proceeds being held in escrow until the prior ownership (that is,
Estonian or the Commonwealth of Independent States) can be established.
Estonia ranks first in per capita consumption among the former Soviet
republics. Agriculture is well developed, especially meat production, and
provides a surplus for export. Only about one-fifth of the work force is in
agriculture. The major share of the work force engages in manufacturing both
capital and consumer goods based on raw materials and intermediate products
from the other former Soviet republics. These manufactures are of high
quality by ex-Soviet standards and are exported to the other republics.
Estonia's mineral resources are limited to major deposits of shale oil (60%
of old Soviet total) and phosphorites (400 million tons). Estonia has a
large, relatively modern port and produces more than half of its own energy
needs at highly polluting shale oil power plants. Like the other 14
successor republics, Estonia is suffering through a difficult transitional
period - between a collapsed command economic structure and a
still-to-be-built market structure. It has advantages in the transition, not
having suffered so long under the Soviet yoke and having better chances of
developing profitable ties to the Nordic and West European countries.
GDP:
$NA billion, per capita $NA; real growth rate -11% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
approximately 200% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA million; ex
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