a and joined with insurgents in December
1990 to form a parallel government; several Shan factions; United Wa
State Army or UWSA

International organization participation: ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate U LINN MYAING

chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044

FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Permanent
Charge d'Affaires Priscilla A. CLAPP

embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)

mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546

telephone: [95] (1) 282055, 282182

FAX: [95] (1) 280409

Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a
cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14
administrative divisions

Burma Economy

Economy - overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity
dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with
substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy
industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the 1990s has
aimed at revitalizing the economy after three decades of tight
central planning. Private activity markedly increased in the early
to mid-1990s, but began to decline in the past several years due to
frustrations with the unfriendly business environment and political
pressure from western nations. Published estimates of Burma's
foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of
black-market, illicit, and border trade. A major ongoing problem is
the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Burma remains
a poor Asian country and living standards for the majority have not
improved over the past decade. Short-term growth will continue to be
restrained because of poor government planning and minimal foreign
investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $63.7 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42%

industry: 17%

services: 41% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: 23% (