)

election results: NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court
(judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders: no legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: Buddhist clergy; ethnic
Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign;
Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a
Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th
Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; the
Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no
formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is
orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white
dragon facing away from the hoist side

Bhutan Economy

Economy - overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and
least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide
the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture
consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged
mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and
other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely
aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The
industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production
of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as
road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower
potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The
Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the
nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model
education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway
with support from multilateral development organizations. Each
economic program takes into account the government's desire to
protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed
cont