ngolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary
Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils
and Students (UGEEC)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC,
UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel
MOUELLET
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY
embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone: [242] 83 20 70
FAX: [242] 83 63 38

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow
band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower
triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy
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Economic overview: Congo's economy is a mixture of village
agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on
oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget
problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the
mainstay of the economy, providing about 90% of government revenues
and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled
Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth
averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover,
the Congolese Government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its
oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues.
The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50%
resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994. Recent efforts to implement
economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has
recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility
agreement in 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $3,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 35.2%
services: 53.4% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 61% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 79,100 wage earners
by occupa