S, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note -
Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William GARVELINK
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (81) 225-5872
FAX: [243] (81) 301-0561

Flag description:

sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to
upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow
stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist
corner

Economy
Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Economy - overview:

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation
endowed with vast potential wealth - is slowly recovering from two
decades of decline. Conflict, which began in August 1998,
dramatically reduced national output and government revenue,
increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of more than 3.5
million people from violence, famine, and disease. Foreign
businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome
of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating
environment. Conditions began to improve in late 2002 with the
withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The
transitional government reopened relations with international
financial institutions and international donors, and President
KABILA has begun implementing reforms, although progress is slow and
the International Monetary Fund curtailed their program for the DRC
at the end of March 2006 because of fiscal overruns. Much economic
activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is not reflected
in GDP data. Renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of
most export income, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP
growth. Government reforms and improved security may lead to
increased government revenues, outside budget assistance, and
foreign direct investment, although an uncertain legal framework,
corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy are
continuing long-term problems.