lly of Houphouetists for Democracy and
Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE
GOUDE]

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daouda DIABATE
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
FAX: [1] (202) 244-3088

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1866, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France

Economy Cote d'Ivoire

Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters
of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is
highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these
products and weather conditions. Despite government attempts to
diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agriculture
and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the population.
Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty of meeting
the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key
exports, foreign divestment and civil war. Political turmoil has
continued to damage the economy since 2004, with a rising risk
premium associated with doing business in the country, foreign
investment shriveling, transportation costs increasing, French
businesses fleeing, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons
and diamonds gaining ground. The government will continue to survive
financially off of the sale of cocoa, which represents 90% of
foreign exchange earnings, but the government will probably lose
between 10% and 20% of its cocoa harvest to northern rebels who
smuggle the coc