HONG-KONG

Economia: Hong Kong tem sua economia de mercado altamente dependente do comércio internacional. Recursos naturais são limitados, e a comida e ma6téria-priam devem ser importados. Mesmo antes de Hong Kong se converter a administração chinesa o dia 1º de julho de 1997 , possuia um comércio extensivo e vínculos de investimentos com a China. per capita: -$25,100 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: 0.1% indústria: 15.9% serviços: 84% (1997 est.) Mão de Obra: 3.216 milhões(1998 est.) Ocupação : Vendas por atacado e varejo, restaurantes, hotéis 31.9%, serviços sociais 9.9%, manufaturas 9.2%, financiamentos, seguros 13.1%, transporte e comunicações 5.7%, construção 2.6%, outros 27.6% (October 1998) Desemprego: 5.5% (1998 est.) Industrias: texteis, roupas, turismo, eletrônicos, plásticos,brinquedos, relógios Agricultura-Produtos: vegetais frescos; granjas Exportações: $188.08 bilhões Exportações comoditis: roupas, texteis, calçados, eletrodomésticos, relógios, brinquedos Parceiros de Exportação: China 35%, US 22%, Japão 6%, Alemanha 4%, Reino Unido 4% (1997) Importações: $208.63 bilhões (1997) Importações comodities: alimentícios, equipamentos de transporte, matéria-prima, semi-manufaturados, petróleo Parceiros de Importação: China 38%, Japão 14%, Taiwan 8%, EUA 8%, Singapura 5% (1997) INDONESIA Composição por setor: agricultura: 18.8% indústria: 40.3% serviços: 40.9% (1998 est.) Taxa de inflação: 77% (1998 est.) Mão de Obra: 87 milhões (1997 est.) Ocupação : agricultura 41%, comércio, restaurante e hotel 19.8%, manufaturados 14%, construcão 4.8%, transporte e comunicação 4.75%, outros 15.65% (1997) Desemprego:15%-20% (1998 est.) Industrias: petróleo e gas natural; têxteis, vestuário, e calçados; minério, cimento, fertilizantes, compensados; borracha; comida; turismo Taxa de crescimento da produção : -13.7% (1998 est.) Produtos gricolas: arroz, amendoim, borracha, cacau, café, óleo de palmeira, granjas, varne bovina, suínos, ovos Exportações: $49 bilhões (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exportações-comoditis: vestuário 7.9%, têxteis 7.3%, gasolina 6.4%, eletrônicos 5.9%, polpa e papel 5.3%, óleo 4.7%, compensados 4.7% Parceiros de Exportação: Japão 18%, Europa 15%, EUA 14%, Singapura 13%, Koréia do Sul 5%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3.9%, Taiwan 3.4% (1998 est.) Importaçõess: $24 bilhões (1998 est.) Importações comoditis: manufaturados 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, alimentícios 7.8%, combustíveis7.7% Parceiros de importações : Japão 20%, EUA 13%, Alemanha 9%, Singapura 9%, Austrália 6.4%, Coreia do Sul 5.4%, Taiwan 3.4%, China 3.1% (1998 est.) Dívida externa: $136 bilhões (1997 est.) COREIA DO SUL Economia: Crescimento rápido. Três décadas atrás, sua rebda per-capta era comparada com os níveis dos mais pobres países da África e Ásia. Hoje, sua renda é sete vezes maior que a da Índia e 13 vezes a da Coreia Do Norta, e já está perto das menores economias da União Européia. Esse sucesso através dos anos 80 foi alcançadapor um sistema fechado de restrição de negócios.Incluindo crédito direto, restrições a importações, apoio de indústrias específicas, e um forte trabalho em equipe. O governo promoveua impotação de matéria-prima e tecnologia os gastos dos consumidores repararam e encorajaram aplicaçõese investimentos no consumo. A crise na Ásia de 1997-98 expôs algumas fragilidades no modelo de desenvolvimento da Coreia Do Sul. No fim de 1998 reconquistou estabilidade,reconstruindo reservas no exteriorpara reaver níveis arrecadando $40 bilhões. Como em dezembro de 1998, os primeiros sinais de reação apareceram, e a maioria das previsões esperavam um índice positivo de crescimento na segunda metade de 1999. Seoul ainda tomou uma iniciativa positiva em um programa para promover uma troca entre maiores grupos de negócios afim de uma maior especialização,e a administração cedeu às pequenas empresas créditos para se reestruturarem. Composição por setor: agricultura: 6% indústria: 43% serviços: 51% (1997 est.) Taxa de Inflação: 7.5% (1998) Mão de Obra: 20 milhões Ocupação :Serviços e outros 52%, manufaturados 27%, agricultura, pesca, sivicultura 21% (1991) Desemprego:7.9% (1998) Industrias: eletrônicos, produção automobilista, textêis, roupas, calçados, comida processada Produtos agricolas: arroz, cevada, vegetais, frutas; suínos, frangos, leite, ovos e peixe Exportações: $133 bilhões (f.o.b., 1998) Exportações comoditis: elétro-eletrônicos,maquinário, automóveis, ships; têxteis, roupas, calçados; peixe Exportações: EUA 17%, Europa 13%, Japão 12% (1995) Imports: $94 billion (c.i.f., 1998) Imports-commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grãos Imports-partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13% (1995) Debt-external: $154 billion (1998 est.) MALASIA Economia: After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the Malaysian economy-severely hit by the regional financial crisis-declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment. Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its weakened banking sector. Composição por setor: agricultura: 13% indústria: 46% serviços: 41% (1997 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998) Mão de Obra Ocupação : 8.398 million (1996 est.) Labor force-by occupation: manufacturing 25%, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996) Desemprego:2.6% (1996 est.) Industrias: Peninsular Malaysia-rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah-logging, petroleum production; Sarawak-agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging Agriculture-products: Peninsular Malaysia-rubber, palm oil, rice; Sabah-subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak-rubber, pepper; timber Exports: $74.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Exports-commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles Exports-partners: US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995) Imports: $59.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Imports-commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food Imports-partners: Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995) Debt-external: $39.8 billion (1998) Economic aid-recipient: $125 million (1995) Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen FILIPINAS Economia: In 1998 the Philippine economy-a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services-deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy. per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,500 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: 20% indústria: 32% serviços: 48% (1997 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.7% (1998) Mão de Obra Ocupação : agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.) Desemprego:9.6% (October 1998) Industrias: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing Agriculture-products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish Exports: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports-commodities: electronics and telecommunications 51%, machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30% Exports-partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, EU 17%, ASEAN 14%, Hong Kong 4%, Taiwan 4% (1997 est.) Imports: $29 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports-commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 43%, capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9% Imports-partners: Japan 21%, US 20%, ASEAN 12%, EU 10%, Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1997 est.) Debt-external: $46.4 billion (September 1998) Economic aid-recipient: ODA, $1.1 billion (1998) Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos CINGAPURA Economia: Singapore has an open economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. Extraordinarily strong fundamentals allowed Singapore to weather the effects of the Asian financial crisis better than its neighbors, but the crisis did pull GDP growth down to 1.3% in 1998 from 6% in 1997. Projections for 1999 GDP growth are in the -1% to 1% range. Rising labor costs and appreciation of the Singapore dollar against its neighbors' currencies continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness. The government's strategy to address this problem includes cutting costs, increasing productivity, improving infrastructure, and encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country. per capita: purchasing power parity-$26,300 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: NEGL% indústria: 28% serviços: 72% Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (1998 est.) Mão de Obra Ocupação :financial, business, and other services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4% (1994) Desemprego:5% (1999 est.) Industrias: electronics, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est Agriculture-products: rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables; poultry Exports: $128 billion (1998 est.) Exports-commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment Exports-partners: Malaysia 19%, US 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 8%, Thailand 6% (1995) Imports: $133.9 billion (1997 est.) Imports-commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs Imports-partners: Japan 21%, Malaysia 15%, US 15%, Thailand 5%, Taiwan 4%, South Korea 4% (1995) TAILANDIA Economia: After months of speculative pressure on the Thai baht, the government decided to float the currency in July 1997, the symbolic beginning of the country's current economic crisis. The crisis-which began in the country's financial sector-has spread throughout the economy. After years of rapid economic growth averaging 9% earlier this decade, the Thai economy contracted 0.4% in 1997 and shrunk another 8.5% in 1998. In the years before the crisis, Thailand ran persistent current account deficits. With the depreciation of the Thai baht and the collapse of domestic demand, however, imports have fallen off sharply-by more than 33%-and Thailand posted a trade surplus of approximately $12 billion in 1998. Foreign investment for new projects, the long-time catalyst of Thailand's economic growth, has also slowed. The CHUAN government has closely adhered to the economic recovery program prescribed by the IMF. The cooperation afforded Thailand stability in the value of its currency in the second half of 1998 and helped replenish foreign reserves. Tough measures-including passage of adequate bankruptcy and foreclosure legislation as well as privatization of state-owned companies and recapitalization of the financial sector-remain undone. Bangkok is also trying to establish a social safety net for those displaced by the current economic crisis and is working to increase the quality of Thailand's labor force. per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,100 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: 12% indústria: 39% serviços: 49% (1997 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1998 est.) Mão de Obra Ocupação :agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31% (1996 est.) Desemprego:4.5% (1998 est.) Industrias: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer Agriculture-products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans Exports: $51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997) Exports-commodities: manufactures 82% (computers and parts 16%), agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997) Exports-partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997) Imports: $73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996) Imports-commodities: capital goods 50%, intermediate goods and raw materials 22%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997) Imports-partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997) Debt-external: $90 billion (1997) TAIWAN Economia: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes less than 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from "the Asian flu" in 1998. per capita: purchasing power parity-$16,500 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: 2.7% indústria: 35.3% serviços: 62% (1997) Mão de Obra Ocupação :services 52%, industry 38%, agriculture 10% (1996) Desemprego:2.7% (1998) Industrias: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining Agriculture-products: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish Exports: $122.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997) Exports-commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7%, electronic products 14.8%, information/communications 11.8%, textile products 11.6% (1997) Exports-partners: US 24.2%, Hong Kong 23.5%, Europe 15.1%, Japan 9.6% (1997) Imports: $114.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997) Imports-commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5%, electronic products 16.3%, chemicals 10.0%, precision instrument 5.6% (1997) Imports-partners: Japan 25.4%, US 20.3%, Europe 18.9%, Hong Kong 1.7% (1997) Debt-external: $80 million (1997 est.) BRASIL Economia: 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 adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. Capital continued to leach out of the country, and investors, concerned about the rising mountain of debt and currency widely-viewed as overvalued, stayed on the sidelines. In January 1999, Brazil made an abrupt shift of course in exchange rate policy, abandoning the strong currency anti-inflation anchor of the Real Plan. On 13 January 1999, Central Bank officials announced a one-time 8% devaluation of the real, and on 15 January 1999, the currency was declared to be freely floating. President CARDOSO remains committed to limiting inflation and weathering the financial crisis through austerity and sacrifice as the country rides out a deep recession. He hopes the country will resume economic growth in the second half of 1999, so that he can once again focus on his longer-term goal of reducing poverty and income inequality. CARDOSO still hopes to address mandated revenue sharing with the states and cumbersome procedures to amend the constitution before the end of his second term. per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,100 (1998 est.) Composição por setor: agricultura: 14% indústria: 36% serviços: 50% (1997) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998) Mão de Obra: 57 million (1989 est.) Mão de Obra Ocupação :services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27% Desemprego:8.5% (1998 est.) Industrias: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment Agriculture-products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef Exports: $51 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Exports-commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts Exports-partners: EU 28%, Latin America (excluding Argentina) 23%, US 20%, Argentina 12% (1996) Imports: $57.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Imports-commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal Imports-partners: EU 26%, US 22%, Argentina 13%, Japan 5% (1996) Debt-external: $258.1 billion (December 1998)