branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional
Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders: Action, Truth, Development, and
Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirth
of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant]; Congress Party for Malagasy
Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana; Economic Liberalism and Democratic
Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo
RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Group
of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or
GRAD/Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA];
Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [Manandafy
RAKOTONIRINA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]; Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Federalist Movement; National
Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Zina ANDRIANARIVELO-RAZAFY

chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Shirley E. BARNES

embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57

FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green
with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Madagascar Economy

Economy - overview: Madagascar faces problems of chronic
malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly
3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover,
accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry,
is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 30% of GDP and
contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features
textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products.
Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of
the population. Growth has been held back