actory construction plans.

Sweden:
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth
century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a
mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits.
It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external
communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and
iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented
toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of
industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50%
of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and
2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily
favorable picture has been somewhat clouded by budgetary
difficulties, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of
competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its
economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start
of 1995. GDP growth is forecast for 4% in 2001.

Switzerland:
Switzerland, a prosperous and stable modern market
economy with a per capita GDP 20% above that of the big western
European economies, experienced solid growth of 3% in 2000, but
growth is expected to fall back to about 2% in 2001. The Swiss in
recent years have brought their economic practices largely into
conformity with the EU's to enhance their international
competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU
membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed
agreements to further liberalize trade ties, and the agreements
should come into force in 2001. Switzerland is still considered a
safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank
secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value.

Syria:
Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing
because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic
reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped,
with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed
sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the
aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance
between major water supplies and population centers poses serious
distribution problems. The water problem is exacerbated by rapid
population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water
pollution. Private investment is critical to t