, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador W. T. VAN TONDER; Chancery at
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
797-5 534;

US--Ambassador Leonard H.O. SPEARMAN, Jr.; Embassy at address NA,
Maseru (mailing address is P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100); telephone [266]
312666

_#_Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with
crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a
green triangle in the corner

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no
important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on
agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed
in South Africa ($153 million in 1989). The great majority of households
gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor.
Manufacturing depends largely on farm products to support the milling,
canning, leather, and jute industries; other industries include textile,
clothing, and light engineering. Industry's share of GDP rose from
6% in 1982 to 15% in 1989. Political and economic instability in South
Africa raise uncertainties for Lesotho's economy, especially with respect
to migrant worker remittances--over one-third of GDP.

_#_GDP: $420 million, per capita $240; real growth rate 4.0% (1990
est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1990 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 23% (1988)

_#_Budget: revenues $280 million; expenditures $288 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)

_#_Exports: $66 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides,
skins, baskets;

partners--South Africa 53%, EC 30%, North and South America 13%
(1989)

_#_Imports: $499 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum, oil, and lubricants;

partners--South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1989)

_#_External debt: $370 million (December 1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 7.8% (1989 est.); accounts
for 15% of GDP

_#_Electricity: power supplied by South Africa

_#_Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 60-70% of
all households; exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and
livestock; principal crops are corn, wheat,