the labor
force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products, with sugar
exports benefiting from increased global demand for ethanol. The
1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war,
removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since
then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization.
On 1 July 2006, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
entered into force between the US and Guatemala and has since
spurred increased investment in the export sector. The distribution
of income remains highly unequal with about 56% of the population
below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing
government revenues, negotiating further assistance from
international donors, upgrading both government and private
financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking and rampant crime,
and narrowing the trade deficit. Given Guatemala's large expatriate
community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient
in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of
foreign income equivalent to nearly two-thirds of exports.

Guernsey
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance -
account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in
this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism,
manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers,
have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and
the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make
Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of
the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey
operates.

Guinea
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural
resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has
almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over
70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal
arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the
country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been
sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other
infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political
uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE.
Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut
off most assistance in