right-wing party; Grand Front (Frente Grande),Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition; several provincial parties
Other political or pressure groups:
Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor
(CGT; Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society
(large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the
Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces
Member of:
AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11,
G-15, G-19, G-24, AfDB, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, MINURSO, MTCR, OAS,
PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ,
UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
chancery:
1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 939–6400 through 6403
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador James CHEEK (since 28 May 1993)
embassy:
4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
mailing address:
APO AA 34034
telephone:
[54] (1) 774–7611, 8811, 9911
FAX:
[54] (1) 775–4205
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light
blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human
face known as the Sun of May
@Argentina, Economy
Overview:
Argentina is rich in natural resources and has a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified
industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and
statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge
external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989,
in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a
comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of
putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's
currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and
inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have
responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight
capital and investing in domestic industry. Growth slowed somewhat in
1993 but Argentina still registered an impressive 6% advance, fueled
largely by inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption
spending. The government's major short term objective is encouraging
exports, e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. Much remains
to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to
growth and in solidifying the recent economic gains.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $185 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$33.1 billion
expenditures:
$35.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992)
Exports:
$12.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool
partners:
US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports:
$16 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants,
agricultural products
partners:
US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt:
$73 billion (April 1994)
Industrial production:
growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 31% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
