on the hoist side) dividing the flag
into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one
is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on
the hoist side of the red triangle

@Eritrea, Economy

Overview:
With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the
bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country.
Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming.
Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from
abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and
sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia
and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of
offshore oil, offshore fishing and tourism. For the time being,
Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign
trade.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
NA
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
NA
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
NA kW
production:
NA kWh
consumption per capita:
NA kWh
Industries:
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Agriculture:
products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish, lentils,
vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope)
Economic aid:
$NA
Currency:
1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used
Exchange rates:
1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.000 (fixed rate since 1992)
Fiscal year:
NA

@Eritrea, Communications

Railroads:
307 km total; 307 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge
(nonoperational) linking Ak'ordat and Asmara (formerly Asmera) with
the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa; 1993 est.)
Highways:
total:
3,845 km
paved:
807 km
unpaved:
gravel 840 km; improved earth 402 km; unimproved earth 1,796 km
Ports:
Assab (formerly Aseb), Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
5
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m: