tal bands of green (top, double width),
white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is
a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

Economy Suriname

Economy - overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite
industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export
earnings. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend
on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and
to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and
promote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an
austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. The
Dutch Government has restarted the aid flow, which will allow Suriname
to access international development financing.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -5.5% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services:
65% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 59% (2000)

Labor force: 100,000

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)

Budget: revenues: $393 million expenditures: $403 million, including
capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)

Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering,
food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity - production: 1.407 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 35.82% hydro: 64.18%
other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption: 1.309 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts,
plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp

Exports: $399 million (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities: alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish,
rice, bananas

Exports - partners: US 23%, Norway 19%, Netherlands 11%, France, Japan,
UK (1999)

Imports: $525 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods

Imports - partners: US 35%, Netherlands 15%, Trinidad