at 2nd Floor, Development
House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta (mailing address is P. O.
Box 535, Valletta); telephone [356] 240424, 240425, 243216, 243217,
243653, 223654

_#_Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in
the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,
edged in red

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable
geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only
about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no
domestic energy sources. Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on
foreign trade and services. Manufacturing and tourism are the largest
contributors to the economy. Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP,
with the electronics and textile industries major contributors. In 1989
inflation was held to a low 0.9%. Per capita GDP at $5,500 places Malta
in the middle-income range of the world's nations.

_#_GDP: $1.9 billion, per capita $5,500 (1988); real growth rate 6.4%
(1989)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1989)

_#_Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1989)

_#_Budget: revenues $1,020 million; expenditures $1,230 million,
including capital expenditures of $380 million (1990 est.)

_#_Exports: $866 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--clothing, textiles, footwear, ships;

partners--Italy 30%, FRG 22%, UK 11%

_#_Imports: $1,328 million (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods;

partners--Italy 30%, UK 16%, FRG 13%, US 4%

_#_External debt: $90 million, medium and long-term (December 1987)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 19.2% (1989); accounts
for 27% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 328,000 kW capacity; 1,110 million kWh produced,
2,990 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction,
food manufacturing, textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP; overall, 20% self-sufficient;
main products--potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes,
citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs; generally
adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products; seasonal
or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic
foodstuffs

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitme