ntation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George A. KROL
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Flag description:
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the
width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamention in red

Economy Belarus

Economy - overview:
Belarus' economy in 2003 posted 6.1 percent growth and is likely to
continue expanding through 2004, albeit at a slower growth rate. The
Belarusian economy in 2004 is likely to be hampered by high
inflation, persistent trade deficits, and ongoing rocky relations
with Russia, Belarus' largest trading partner and energy supplier.
Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President
LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism."
In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative
controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the
state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises.
In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of
central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in
regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application
of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen
and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has
helped those at the bottom of the ladder. For the time being,
Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market
economies.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $62.56 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.1%
industry: 36.4%
services: 52.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
21.7% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
22% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
21.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
28.2% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
4.8 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
NA

Unemployment rate:
2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large number
of underemployed workers (