ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU,
OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Akoussoulelou BODJONA FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190 telephone: [1] (202)
234-4212 chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Karl HOFMANN embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou
B. P. 852, Lome telephone:
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red
square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

Economy Togo

Economy - overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily
dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which
provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs
must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about
40% of export earnings, with cotton being the most significant cash
crop despite falling prices on the world market. Political unrest,
including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993,
jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital
economic activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the XOF currency
by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment.
In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important
activity. Togo is the world's fourth largest producer, and geological
advantages keep production costs low. The recently privatized mining
operation, Office Togolais des Phosphates (OTP), is slowly recovering
from a steep fall in prices in the early 1990's, but continues to face
the challenge of tough foreign competition, exacerbated by weakening
demand. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. It
continues to expand its duty-free export-processing zone (EPZ), launched
in 1989, which has attracted enterprises from France, Italy, Scandinavia,
the US, India, and China and created jobs for Togolese nationals. The
government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF,
to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and
bring revenues in line with expenditures has stalled. Progress depends
on following thro