Sunergy, Inc. (fka SNEY)

[falon]

Background Note: Sierra Leone

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5475.htm

Economy

GDP (2009): $2.0 billion.

Real GDP growth rate (2010): 5%.

Inflation rate (2010, Consumer Price Index): 16.8%.

Exchange rate: U.S. $1 = 4,200 SLL (Leones).

Total external debt (2010): $767.9 million (10% increase over 2009), of which commercial debt is $231.5 million and bilateral debt is $60.8 million (China 39%, Kuwait 35%, India 23%, Saudi Fund 3%).

Budget deficit (2010): 6.9% of GDP.

Natural resources: Diamonds, titanium ore (rutile), bauxite, gold, iron ore, ilmenorutile, platinum, chromite, manganese, cassiterite, molybdenite, as well as forests, abundant fresh water, and rich offshore fishing grounds.

Agriculture: Products--coffee, cocoa, ginger, palm kernels, palm oil, cassava, bananas, citrus, peanuts, cashews, plantains, rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, fish. Land--30% potentially arable, 9% cultivated.

Industry: Types--diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); bauxite and rutile mining; forestry; fishing; flour; cement and other construction goods; petroleum refining; plastics; small commercial ship repair; tourism (31,271 visitors in 2010).

Trade (2010): Exports--$341.2 million: diamonds, rutile, bauxite, coffee, cocoa, fish. Major destinations of exports (2009, Economist Intelligence Unit--EIU)--Belgium 28.4%, U.S. 12.7%, Netherlands 8.5%, U.K. 7.9%, India 7.2%. Imports--$770 million: fuel and lubricants, rice and other foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, building materials, light consumer goods, used clothing, textiles. Main origins of imports--South Africa 23.2%, China 12.1%, U.S. 9.3%, Cote d’Ivoire 9%, India 8.3%.