WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
chancery : 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] 22 54 70
FAX : [223] 22 37 12

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Economy - overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world,
with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is
largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About
10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is
engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on
processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid
and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main
export. Nonetheless the government has successfully implemented an
IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the
economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's
adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African
Franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several
multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996
and the government projects that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan
gold exporter in the next few years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34% (1995)

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 12.7% (1995 est.)

Labor force:
total: 2.666 million (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1%
(1981)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues : $730 million
expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing;
construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1994)

Electricity - capacity: 84,100 kW (1990)

Electricity - production: 235 million kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption pe