Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred
SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: New York FAX: Connecticut Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Anthony H. GIOIA embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street,
Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta,
CMR 01 telephone: [356] 235960 through 235965 FAX: [356] 243229

Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and
red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the Saint
George Cross, edged in red

Economy Malta

Economy - overview: Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic
location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20%
of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic
energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing
(especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing
state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for
membership in the European Union and is expected to complete EU accession
negotiations in 2002. The island is divided politically, however, over
the question of joining the EU.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.95 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 25.5% services:
71.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 147,700 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: industry 24%, services 71%, agriculture 5%
(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (2000)

Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction;
food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Industrial pr