ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate J. Brian ATWOOD
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito
Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center
bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one
for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same
pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white
equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Economy

Economy--overview: Possessing large and well-developed
agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's
economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is
expanding its presence in world markets. Prior to the institution of
a stabilization plan--the Plano Real (Real Plan) in mid-1994,
stratospheric inflation rates had disrupted economic activity and
discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy
has brought inflation under control--consumer prices increased by 2%
in 1998 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP
growth slowed from 5.7% in 1994 to about 3.0% in 1997 due to tighter
credit. The Real Plan faced its strongest challenge in 1998, as the
world financial crisis caused investors to more closely examine the
country's structural weaknesses. The most severe spillover for
Brazil--after Russia's debt default in August 1998--created
unrelenting pressure on the currency which forced the country to
hike annual interest rates to 50%. Approximately $30 billion in
capital left the country in August and September. After crafting a
fiscal