Part 24

Overview: One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. France is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products and is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. After expanding at a rapid 3.8% pace during the period 1988-89, the economy slowed down in 1990, with growth of 1.5% in 1990 and 1.4% in 1991; growth in 1992 is expected to be about 2%. The economy has had difficulty generating enough jobs for new entrants into the labor force, resulting in a high unemployment rate, which rose to almost 10% in 1991. The steadily advancing economic integration within the European Community is a major force affecting the fortunes of the various economic sectors. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $1,033.7 billion, per capita $18,300; real growth rate 1.4% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.8% (end 1991) Budget: revenues $229.8 billion; expenditures $246.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $36 billion (1992 budget) Exports: $209.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing partners: FRG 17.3%, Italy 11.4%, UK 9.2%, Spain 10.3%, Netherlands 9.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.4%, US 6.1%, Japan 1.9%, former USSR 0.7% (1989 est.) Imports: $232.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products partners: FRG 18.9%, Italy 11.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.8%, Netherlands 8.6%, US 8.0%, Spain 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Japan 4.0%, former USSR 1.4% (1989 est.) External debt: $59.3 billion (December 1987) Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1990); accounts for 26% of GDP Electricity: 109,972,000 kW capacity; 399,318 million kWh produced, 7,200 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, and tourism Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal products - beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically

:France Economy

Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion Currency: French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:France Communications

Railroads: French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,568 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 11,674 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track; 2,138 km of various gauges (1.000-meter to 1.440-meter), privately owned and operated Highways: 1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway; 347,000 km departmental highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km rural roads; 5,401 km of controlled-access divided autoroutes; about 803,000 km paved Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km Ports: maritime - Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Sete, Toulon; inland - 42 Merchant marine: 128 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,222,539 GRT/5,117,091 DWT; includes 6 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 18 container, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 30 roll-on/roll-off, 34 petroleum tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 11 bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo; note - France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia Civil air: 195 major transport aircraft (1989 est.) Airports: 472 total, 460 usable; 251 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways over 3,659 m; 36 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 136 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed; extensive cable and radio relay networks; large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems; satellite systems for domestic traffic; 39,200,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 41 AM, 800 (mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV; 24 submarine coaxial cables; 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for the Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT); HF radio communications with more than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV service

:France Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49, 14,599,636; 12,225,969 fit for military service; 411,211 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $33.1 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1991)

:French Guiana Geography

Total area: 91,000 km2 Land area: 89,150 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana Land boundaries: 1,183 km; Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km Coastline: 378 km Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 82%; other 18% Environment: mostly an unsettled wilderness

:French Guiana People

Population: 127,505 (July 1992), growth rate 4.6% (1992) Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 24 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 78 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - French Guianese (singular and plural); adjective - French Guianese; note - they are a colony/department; they hold French passports Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%; Caucasian 12%; East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%; other 10% Religions: predominantly Roman Catholic Languages: French Literacy: 82% (male 81%, female 83%) age 15 and over can read and write (1982) Labor force: 23,265; services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980) Organized labor: 7% of labor force

:French Guiana Government

Long-form name: Department of Guiana Type: overseas department of France Capital: Cayenne Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France) Independence: none (overseas department of France) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French legal system National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Executive branch: French president, commissioner of the republic Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council Judicial branch: highest local court is the Court of Appeals based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana Leaders: Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Francois DICHIARA (since NA 1990) Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER; Rally for the Republic (RPR), Paulin BRUNE; Guianese Democratic Action (ADG), Andre LECANTE; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK; National Front (FN), Guy MALON; Popular and National Party of Guiana (PNPG), Claude ROBO; National Anti-Colonist Guianese Party (PANGA), Michel KAPEL Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: French National Assembly: last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1 French Senate: last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PSG 1 Regional Council: last held 16 March 1986 (next to be held NA 1991); results - PSG 43%, RPR 27.7%, ADG 12.2%, UDF 8. 9%, FN 3.7%, PNPG 1.4%, other 3.1%; seats - (31 total) PSG 15, RPR 9, ADG 4, UDF 3 Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France, the interests of French Guiana are represented in the US by France Flag: the flag of France is used

:French Guiana Economy

Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1987. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - are limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $186 million, per capita $2,240; real growth rate NA% (1985) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1987) Unemployment rate: 15% (1987) Budget: revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1987) Exports: $54.0 million (f.o.b., 1987) commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence partners: France 31%, US 22%, Japan 10% (1987) Imports: $394.0 million (c.i.f., 1987) commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods, petroleum partners: France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3% (1987) External debt: $1.2 billion (1988) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 1,821 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock - cattle, pigs, poultry Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.51 billion Currency: French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.3801 (January 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:French Guiana Communications

Highways: 680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and unimproved earth Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft Ports: Cayenne Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 10 total, 10 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: fair open-wire and radio relay system; 18,100 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:French Guiana Defense Forces

Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49 37,467; 24,534 fit for military service Note: defense is the responsibility of France

:French Polynesia Geography

Total area: 3,941 km2 Land area: 3,660 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: none Coastline: 2,525 km Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical, but moderate Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 19%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 31%; other 44% Environment: occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes Note: Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

:French Polynesia People

Population: 205,620 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992) Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - French Polynesian(s); adjective - French Polynesian Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% Religions: mainly Christian; Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16% Languages: French and Tahitian (both official) Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977) Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988) Organized labor: NA

:French Polynesia Government

Long-form name: Territory of French Polynesia Type: overseas territory of France since 1946 Capital: Papeete Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent; note - Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia Independence: none (overseas territory of France) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: based on French system National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Executive branch: French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly Judicial branch: Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the Republic Jean MONTPEZAT (since November 1987) Head of Government: President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991); Vice President of the Council of Ministers Joel BUILLARD (since 12 September 1991) Political parties and leaders: People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU; other small parties Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Assembly last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 1, New Fatherland Party 1 French Senate: last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) party NA Territorial Assembly: last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4 Member of: FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are represented in the US by France

:French Polynesia Government

Flag: the flag of France is used

:French Polynesia Economy

Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion, per capita $6,000; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989) Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988) Exports: $88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat partners: France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17% Imports: $765 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment partners: France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 72,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy products Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural - francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 97.81 (January 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc Fiscal year: calendar year

:French Polynesia Communications

Highways: 600 km (1982) Ports: Papeete, Bora-bora Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,128 GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo; note - a captive subset of the French register Civil air: about 6 major transport aircraft Airports: 43 total, 41 usable; 23 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers; 26,400 TV sets; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:French Polynesia Defense Forces

Branches: French forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,844; NA fit for military service Note: defense is responsibility of France

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands Geography

Total area: 7,781 km2 Land area: 7,781 km2; includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet; excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware Land boundaries: none Coastline: 1,232 km Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (Iles Kerguelen only) Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US Climate: antarctic Terrain: volcanic Natural resources: fish, crayfish Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes Note: located in the southern Indian Ocean about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands People

Population: summer (January 1991) - 200, winter (July 1992) - 150, growth rate 0.0% (1992); note - mostly researchers

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands Government

Long-form name: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council Capital: none; administered from Paris, France Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US Flag: the flag of France is used

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion. Budget: $33.6 million (1990)

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,752 GRT/334,400 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 2 bulk, 1 multifunction large load carrier; note - a captive subset of the French register Telecommunications: NA

:French Southern and Antarctic Lands Defense Forces

Branches: French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force) Note: defense is the responsibility of France

:Gabon Geography

Total area: 267,670 km2 Land area: 257,670 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado Land boundaries: 2,551 km; Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km Coastline: 885 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Natural resources: crude oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 18%; forest and woodland 78%; other 2% Environment: deforestation

:Gabon People

Population: 1,106,355 (July 1992), growth rate 1.5% (1992) Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 100 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 56 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Gabonese (singular and plural); adjective - Gabonese Ethnic divisions: about 40 Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke); about 100,000 expatriate Africans and Europeans, including 27,000 French Religions: Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, remainder animist Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi Literacy: 61% (male 74%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 120,000 salaried; agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%; 58% of population of working age (1983) Organized labor: there are 38,000 members of the national trade union, the Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA)

:Gabon Government

Long-form name: Gabonese Republic Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990) Capital: Libreville Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France) Constitution: 21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975 Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted National holiday: Renovation Day (Gabonese Democratic Party established), 12 March (1968) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Leaders: Chief of State: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967) Head of Government: Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3 May 1990) Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO, president; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons); Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP); National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original); Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG); Gabonese Socialist Union (USG); Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP); Union for Democracy and Development (UDD) Suffrage: universal at age 21 Elections: National Assembly: last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independents 3 President: last held on 9 November 1986 (next to be held December 1993); results - President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Alexandre SAMBAT; Chancery at 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 797-1000

:Gabon Government

US: Ambassador Keith L. WAUCHOPE; Embassy at Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville (mailing address is B. P. 4000, Libreville); telephone (241) 762003/4, or 743492 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

:Gabon Economy