representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Siragatou Ibrahim CISSE
chancery:
2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-2249 or 939-8950
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Herbert Donald GELBER
embassy:
Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako
mailing address:
B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone:
[223] 225470
FAX:
[233] 228059
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Mali, Economy

Overview:
Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% of its land
area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the
riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population live as
nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and
fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.
In consultation with international lending agencies, the government has
adopted a structural adjustment program for 1992-95, aiming at GDP annual
growth of 4.6%, inflation of no more than 2.5% on average, and a substantial
reduction in the external current account deficit.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.2% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$265 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $329 million; expenditures $519 million, including capital
expenditures of $178 (1989 est.)
Exports:
$320 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins
partners:
mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports:
$390 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals
partners:
mostly franc zone and Western Europe
External debt:
$2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 15.0% (1990 est.); accounts for 10.0% of GDP
Electricity:
260,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold,
fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence farms;
cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops -
millet, rice, corn, vegetables, pea