pressure groups: supporters of ousted President
Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of
opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
20005
telephone: [1] (202) 393-5959
FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (8832) 98-99-67, 93-38-03
FAX: [7] (8832) 93-37-59

Flag: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Economy
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Economic overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved
around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and a small industrial
sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles.
The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural
gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is
hydropower. Since 1991 the economy has sustained severe damage from
civil strife. Georgia has been suffering from acute energy
shortages, as it is having problems paying for even minimal imports.
Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery largely on
reestablishing trade ties with Russia and on developing
international transportation through the key Black Sea ports of
P'ot'i and Bat'umi. Statistical estimates on Georgia are subject to
a particularly wide margin of error, even compared with other FSU
countries. The GDP estimate below probably does not reflect much of
its grass roots economic activity. GDP is supplemented by
considerable EU and US humanitarian aid.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -11% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,080 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 70.4%
industry: 10.2%
services: 19.4% (1993 est.)

Inflat