23–05-12FAX:
[237] 23–07-53
consulate(s):
none (Douala closed July 1993)
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with
a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Cameroon, Economy
Overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. In 1990–93, with support from the IMF and World Bank, the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the nation's banks. Political instability following suspect elections in 1992 brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency in January 1994 improves the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains and is the main barrier to economic improvement. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $19.1 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA National product per capita: $1,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 25% (1990 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $422 million (FY90 est.) Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: petroleum products 51%, coffee, beans, cocoa, aluminum products, timber partners: EC (particularly France) about 50%, US, African countries Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment partners: EC about 60% (France 41%, Germany 9%), African countries, Japan, US 4% External debt: $6 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 6.4% (FY87); accounts for 30% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 755,000 kW production: 2.19 billion kWh consumption per capita: 190 kWh (1991) Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, sawmills Agriculture: the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment for the majority of the population, contributing nearly 25% to GDP and providing a high degree of self-sufficiency in staple foods; commercial and food crops include coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock, root starches Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–90), $479 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–90), $4.75 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $29 million; Communist countries (1970–89), $125 million Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948 Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Cameroon, Communications
Railroads:
1,003 km total; 858 km 1.000-meter gauge, 145 km 0.600-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
65,000 km
paved:
2,682 km
unpaved:
gravel, improved earth 32,318 km; unimproved earth 30,000 km
Inland waterways:
2,090 km; of decreasing importance
Ports:
Douala
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT
Airports:
total:
61
usable:
49
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440–3,659 m:
6
with runways 1,220–2,439 m:
21
Telecommunications:
good system of open wire, cable, troposcatter, and microwave radio
relay; 26,000 telephones, 2 telephones per 1,000 persons, available
only to business and government; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 11 FM, 1
TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
@Cameroon, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force, National
Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15–49 2,939,761; fit for military service 1,481,750; reach
military age (18) annually 137,020 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $219 million, less than 2% of GDP (1990
est.)
@Canada, Geography
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North
Pacific Ocean north of the US
Map references:
Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
9,976,140 sq km
land area:
9,220,970 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than US
Land boundaries:
total 8,893 km, US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
243,791 km
Maritime claims:
