he US, visited the islands in 1998.
Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In
the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration
to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and
incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly
400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The
adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which
provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory
gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British
Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.
Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor
soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.
Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the
British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since
1959.

Brunei
This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of
foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation,
welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas
production account for nearly half of GDP and more than 90% of
government revenues. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third
World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment
supplements income from domestic production. The government provides
for all medical services and free education through the university
level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are
concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy
will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future
include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment,
strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general,
further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

Bulgaria
Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the
European Union on 1 January 2007, has experienced macroeconomic
stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996
led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the
government became committed to economic reform and responsible
fiscal planning. Minerals, including coal, copper, and zinc, play an
important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was
reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev
against the German D-mark - the currency is now fixed against the
euro - and t