Economy overview: Côte d’Ivoire is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans and palm oil. As a result, the country’s economy is very sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these goods and weather conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it remains dependent on agriculture and related industries, which employ 68% of the population. In 1994, after a recession of economic activity lasting several years, a period of recovery began, driven by the devaluation of the CFA franc, rising prices for cocoa and coffee and an increase in non-traditional exports (such as pineapples and rubber), relative liberalization of trade and banking business, the discovery of oil and gas fields on the shelf, as well as significant external financing and debt restructuring. Moreover, the government’s commitment to donor-agreed reforms contributed to economic growth of 5% annually in 1996-99. In 2000, growth turned negative due to difficulties in meeting the conditions of foreign donors, continued low prices for key export commodities, and instability caused by the coup. Some recovery in the cocoa market in 2001-02 should contribute to growth by about 3%, which may be hindered by political instability. Some recovery in the cocoa market in 2001-02 should contribute to growth by about 3%, which may be hindered by political instability. Some recovery in the cocoa market in 2001-02 should contribute to growth by about 3%, which may be hindered by political instability. See cheeroutdoor.com to know more about Ivory Coast Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $26.2 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: -0.3% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $1,600 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 32%; industry: 18%; services: 50% (1998). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 3.1%; by the top 10% of families: 28.8% (1995). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 2.5% (2000 est.). Labor force: 68% employed in agriculture (2000 est.). Employment structure: Unemployment rate: 13% in cities (1998 est.). Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion; expenses: $2.1 billion, including capital investments – $420 million (2000 est.). Spheres of economy: production of foodstuffs and drinks; timber and woodworking industry, oil refining, assembly of tractors and buses, textile industry, production of fertilizers, building materials, electric power industry. Growth in industrial production: 15% (1998 est.). Electricity generation: 4.06 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 75.37%; hydropower: 24.63%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 3.183 billion kWh (1999). Export of electricity: 593 million kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber. Exports: $3.8 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: cocoa 33%, coffee, rainforest, oil, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish (1999). Export partners: France 15%, USA 8%, Netherlands 7%, Italy 6% (1999). Imports: $2.5 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Import articles: food, consumer goods; means of production, fuel, transport equipment. Import partners: France 26%, Nigeria 10%, China 7%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1999). External debt: $13.9 billion (2000 est.) Economic aid recipient: official development support $1 billion (1996 est.). Economic aid donor: Currency: African Financial Community franc (CFA franc, Communaute Finan-ciere Africaine franc); note – the circulation of the CFA franc is regulated by the Central Bank of West African countries. Currency code: XOF. Exchange rate: XOF/USD – 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note: since January 1, 1999, the CFA franc has been exchanged for the euro at a ratio of 655.957 CFA francs to 1 euro. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 219 283 (December 31, 1999). Mobile cell phones: 322,500 (May 2000). Telephone system: well developed by African standards, but not fully operational; internal: terrestrial communication lines and microwave radio relay communication; the system is 90% digital; international: satellite earth stations -2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June 1999). Broadcast stations: AM – 2, FM – 8, shortwave -3 (1998). Radio receivers: 2.26 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 14 (1999). Televisions: 900,000 (1997). Internet country code: ci Internet Service Providers: 5 (2001). Number of users: 20,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total length: 660 km. narrow gauge: 660 km (1,000 m gauge; 25 km dual gauge); note: another 600 km of the railway goes to Burkina Faso, ending in Kaya, north of Ouagadougou (2000). Roads: total length: 50,400 km; coated: 4,889 km; unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 980 km of rivers, canals and numerous coastal lagoons are navigable. Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboiso, Dabu, San Pedro. Merchant fleet: total: 1 ship (displacement 1,000 tons or more) with a total displacement of 1,200 gross register tons / 1,500 long tons of gross tonnage; ships of various types: oil tankers – 1 (2000 est.). Airports: 36 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 7; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m:2; 1524 to 2437 m: 4 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 29; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8; from 914 to 1523 m:12; less than 914 m: 9 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: army, navy, air force, paramilitary gendarmerie, Republican guard (which includes the presidential guard), fire sappers (military fire department). Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 3,851,432 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men aged 15 to 49: 2,010,862 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 188,411 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $94 million (1996) Military spending as part of GDP: 1% (1996).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: no. Illicit drugs: producer of hemp, mainly for local consumption; transit point for heroin from Southwest and Southeast Asia destined for Europe and partly for the United States, as well as for cocaine from Latin America destined for Europe
