from
participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party
or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)], and two
opposition parties - the National Convention Party or NCP [former
Vice President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP
[Hassan Musa CAMARA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
John P. BOJANG

chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399

FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
George W. B. HALEY

embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul

mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971

FAX: [220] 392475

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue
with white edges, and green

Gambia, The Economy

Economy - overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other
natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of
the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a
major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed
preshipment inspection plan, instability of the Gambian dalasi, and
the stable political situation in Senegal have drawn some of the
reexport trade away from Banjul. The government's 1998 seizure of
the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of
Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen
significantly lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism from 1999
to 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment
rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly
dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on
responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF
technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the
construction sector.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (2000 est.)