OC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR; Chancery at
Suite 350, 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
telephone (202) 659-0856;
US--Ambassador Robert W. FERRAND; Embassy at Armit Street, Port
Moresby (mailing address is P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby); telephone
[675] 211-455 or 594, 654
_#_Flag: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper
triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the
lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and
the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a
subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous
deposits, including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of
export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid
under World Bank auspices help sustain the economy.
_#_GDP: $2.7 billion, per capita $725; real growth rate - 3.0% (1989
est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1989)
_#_Unemployment rate: 5% (1988)
_#_Budget: revenues $867 million; expenditures $873 million,
including capital expenditures of $119 million (1990 est.)
_#_Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
commodities--gold, copper ore, coffee, cocoa, copra, palm oil,
timber, lobster;
partners--FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US
_#_Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
commodities--machinery and transport equipment, fuels, food,
chemicals, consumer goods;
partners--Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK
_#_External debt: $2.76 billion (December 1990)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 25% of
GDP
_#_Electricity: 397,000 kW capacity; 1,510 million kWh produced,
400 kWh per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: copra crushing, oil palm processing, plywood
processing, wood chip production, gold, silver, copper, construction,
tourism
_#_Agriculture: one-third of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population;
fertile soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of
crops; cash crops--coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other
products--tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork;
net importer of food
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