M/MFT)
20%, Dr. Jerome Marojama RAZANABAHINY (VONJY) 15%, Monja JAONA
(MONIMA) 3%;

Popular National Assembly--last held on 28 May 1989 (next to
be held May 1994);
results--AREMA 88.2%, MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%;
seats--(137 total) AREMA 120, MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1

_#_Communists: Communist party of virtually no importance; small and
vocal group of Communists has gained strong position in leadership of
AKFM, the rank and file of which is non-Communist

_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn
RAJAONARIVELO; Chancery at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC
20008; telephone (202) 265-5525 or 5526; there is a Malagasy Consulate
General in New York;

US--Ambassador Howard K. WALKER; Embassy at 14 and 16 Rue
Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo (mailing address is B. P. 620,
Antananarivo); telephone 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18

_#_Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world.
During the period 1980-85 it had a population growth of 3% a year and
a - 0.4% GDP growth rate. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is
the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 40% of GDP, employing
about 80% of the labor force, and contributing to more than 70% of total
export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of
agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1990 it accounted for
only 16% of GDP and employed 3% of the labor force. In 1986 the
government introduced a five-year development plan that stresses
self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for
exports, and reduced energy imports.

_#_GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 3.8% (1990
est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $390 million; expenditures $525 million, including
capital expenditures of $240 million (1990 est.)

_#_Exports: $290 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--coffee 45%, vanilla 15%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum
products;

partners--France, Japan, Italy, FRG, US