anese Pounds.

Suriname
The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with
exports of alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of
exports and 25% of government revenues, making the economy highly
vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The short-term economic
outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and
on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining
sectors. Suriname has received aid for these projects from
Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. Suriname's
economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued
commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the
introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote
competition. In 2000, the government of Ronald VENETIAAN, returned
to office and inherited an economy with inflation of over 100% and a
growing fiscal deficit. He quickly implemented an austerity program,
raised taxes, attempted to control spending, and tamed inflation.
These economic policies are likely to remain in effect during
VENETIAAN's third term. Prospects for local onshore oil production
are good as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling
was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie)
signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Maersk, and Occidental.
Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

Svalbard
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The
treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories equal rights to
exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although
US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past,
the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The
settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian
state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian
population on the island, runs many of the local services, and
provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.

Swaziland
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture
occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing
sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp
remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar
industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in
response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices.