on of
Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights
[Ramazan DYRYIDAYEV]

International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO,
ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakytbek ABDRISAYEV
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX : [1] (202) 338-5139

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3312) 22-26-93, 22-32-89
FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51

Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40
rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays
run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt

Economy

Economy - overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country
with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are
the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports
included gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been
one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in
carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization
program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 32% for 1996,
attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the
government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production
have been severe since the break up of the Soviet Union in December
1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to
increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with
salaries arrears continue to suffer. Foreign assistance plays a
substantial role in the country's budget. In 1996 the economy showed
strong signs that recovery was underway.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1996 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - real growth rate: 5.6% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,290 (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry : 28%
services: 37% (1994 est.)

Infl