Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate
export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive
short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports
rose by an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-07, largely
because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall
prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread
internal poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse of
oil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adopt
market-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economic
statistics were state secrets. The new government has established a
State Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures are
subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP
growth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOW
has sought to improve the health and education systems, ordered
unification of the country's dual currency exchange rate, begun
decreasing state subsidies for gasoline, signed an agreement to
build a gas line to China, and created a special tourism zone on the
Caspian Sea. All of these moves hint that the new post-NYYAZOW
government will work to create a friendlier foreign investment
environment.

Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the
leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters
of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of
government revenue also include fees from offshore financial
activities and customs receipts.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of
nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral
resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public
sector workers make up the majority of those employed. About 15% of
the adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad
and remittances are a vital source of income, contributing around $4
million in 2006. Substantial income is received annually from the
Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF), an international trust fund established in
1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Jap