our rectangles--the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,
the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at
the center of the cross

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: The economy is largely dependent on trade; imported
components average 60% of the value of goods consumed in the domestic
market. Rapid growth of free trade zones has established a significant
expansion of manufacturing for export, especially wearing apparel.
Over the past decade tourism has also increased in importance and is a
major earner of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture
remains a key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is
sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic
industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, durable
consumer goods, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially
reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment. An
increasing foreign debt burden and galloping inflation are the economy's
greatest weaknesses.

_#_GDP: $6.68 billion, per capita $940; real growth rate 4.2% (1989)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1990 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 29% (1990 est.)

_#_Budget: revenues $413 million; expenditures $522 million,
including capital expenditures of $218 million (1988)

_#_Exports: $922 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);

commodities--sugar, coffee, cocoa, gold, ferronickel;

partners--US 60%, EC 19%, Puerto Rico 8% (1990)

_#_Imports: $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals
and pharmaceuticals;

partners--US 50%

_#_External debt: $4.2 billion (1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1989 est.); accounts
for 18% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 1,445,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced,
580 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining,
textiles, cement, tobacco

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor
force; sugarcane most important commercial crop, followed by coffee,
cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops--rice, beans, potatoes, corn,
bananas; animal output--cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not
self-sufficient in food

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $576.5
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $569 million

_#_Currency: Dominican p