nt's monopoly on wheat imports, and promote
more competition in the financial sector.

Sudan:
Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic instability, adverse
weather, weak world agricultural prices, a drop in remittances from
abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private
sector's main areas of activity are agriculture (which employs 80%
of the work force), trading, and light industry which is mostly
processing of agricultural goods. Most of the 1990s were
characterized by sluggish economic growth as the IMF suspended
lending, declared Sudan a non-cooperative state, and threatened to
expel Sudan from the IMF. Starting in 1997, Sudan began implementing
IMF macroeconomic reforms which have successfully stabilized
inflation at 10% or less. Sudan continues to have limited
international credit resources as over 75% of Sudan's debt of $24.9
billion is in arrears and Khartoum's continued prosecution of the
civil war works to isolate Sudan. In 1999, Sudan began exporting oil
and in 1999-2000 had recorded its first trade surpluses. Current oil
production stands at 185,000 barrels per day, of which about 70% is
exported and the rest refined for domestic consumption. Despite its
many infrastructure problems, Sudan's increased oil production, the
return of regular rainfall, and recent investments in irrigation
schemes should allow the country to achieve economic growth of 6% in
2001.

Suriname:
The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which
accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After
assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended
the structural adjustment program of the previous government,
claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax
revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to
implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation
of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government
relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed
in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility
sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a
bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed
to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government
sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led
to a dramatic increase in inflation and exchange rate depreci