PPM, RP) [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; Movement for
Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National
Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party
or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Congress for Democracy or NCD [Hetherwick
NTABA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's
Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party
or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
[Bingu wa MUTHARIKA] - governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE
chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David
GILMOUR
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a
radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note:
the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

Economy Malawi

Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed
countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90%
of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for
nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The
performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for over 50% of exports. The economy depends on
substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World
Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was
approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
program. The government faces strong challenges, including
developing a market economy, improving educational facilities,
facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly
growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfy