ington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 62 18, (51) 40 09, (51) 47 59
FAX: [235] (51) 33 72

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of
Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered
shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of
France

@Chad:Economy

Overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and
lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped
countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil,
conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the
economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a
severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than
80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing.
Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of
exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food
credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the
Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the
50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an
increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for
cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and
enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to dampen economic
enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers and public
sector salaries. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a
distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will
continue to limp along in the near term.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1993
est.)

National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: $530 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -4.1% (1992)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $120 million
expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104
million (1992 est.)

Exports: $190 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: machinery and