ll growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the
fortunes of the tourism sector and continued sturdy growth in the
US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visitors.

Bahrain:
In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for
about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of
GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport
facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with
business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil
revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists of
petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds
on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among
the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water
resources are major long-term economic problems.

Baker Island:
no economic activity

Bangladesh:
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to
improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one
of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed
nations. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the
service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in
the agriculture sector, with rice as the single most important
product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and
floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port
facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by
agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas),
insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic
reforms. Reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting
and corruption at all levels of government. Even so, Prime Minister
Sheikh HASINA's Awami League government has made some headway
improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the
capital markets. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting
because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions,
and other vested interest groups.

Barbados:
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on
sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in
recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The
start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the
tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-2000. Offshore finance
and information services are