m the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES
embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: (2) 980-52-41 through 48
FAX: (2) 981-89-77

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green,
and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe has been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath
of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing
the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
from Nazi control)

@Bulgaria:Economy

Economy - overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of
Democratic Forces (UDF) government won pre-term parliamentary
elections and introduced an IMF currency board system which succeeded
in stabilizing the economy. The triple digit inflation of 1996 and
1997 has given way to an official consumer price increase of 6.2% in
1999. Following declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the economy
grew an officially estimated 3.5% in 1998 and 2.5% in 1999. In
September 1998, the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility,
which provides credits worth approximately $900 million, designed to
support Bulgaria's reform efforts. In 1999, an unfavorable
international environment - primarily caused by the Kosovo conflict -
and structural reforms slowed economic growth, but forecasters are
predicting accelerated growth over the next several years. The
government's structural reform program includes: (a) privatization
and, where appropriate, liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs);
(b) liberalization of agricultural policies, including creating
conditions for the development of a land market; (c) reform of the
country's social insurance programs; and (d) reforms to strengthen
contract enforcement and fight crime and corruption.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $34.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21%
industry: 29%
services: 50% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1999 est.)

Labor force: 3.82 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services
43% (1998 est.)

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