Côte D'ivoire (original) (raw)

Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

République de Côte d'Ivoire

CAPITAL : Yamoussoukro

FLAG: The flag is a tricolor of orange, white, and green vertical stripes.

ANTHEM: L'Abidjanaise, beginning: "Greetings, O land of hope."

MONETARY UNIT: The Communauté Financière Africaine franc (CFA Fr), which was originally pegged to the French franc, has been pegged to the euro since January 1999 with a rate of 655.957 CFA francs to 1 euro. The CFA franc is issued in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 CFA francs, and notes of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 CFA francs. CFA Fr1 = 0.00167(or0.00167 (or 0.00167(or1 = CFA Fr597.577) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard.

HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Labor Day, 1 May; Assumption, 15 August; All Saints' Day, 1 November; Independence Day, 7 December; Christmas, 25 December. Movable religious holidays include Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension, Pentecost Monday, 'Id al-Fitr, and 'Id al-'Adha'.

TIME: GMT.

LANGUAGES

The official language is French. Of the more than 60 African languages spoken by different ethnic groups, the most important are Agni and Baulé, spoken by the Akan group; the Kru languages; the Sénoufo languages; and the Mandé languages (especially Malinké-Bambura-Dioula).

ARMED FORCES

Côte d'Ivoire's armed forces numbered around 17,050 in 2002, including the Presidential Guard. There were 6,500 in the army, including three infantry battalions and one mechanized battalion; 900 in the navy; and 700 in the air force. There is also a paramilitary force of about 7,000. Military expenditures in 2001 were $128 million or 1.3% of GDP.

FISHING

In 1964 a modern fishing wharf was opened at Abidjan, which is Africa's largest tuna fishing port, handling about 100,000 tons of tuna each year. There are fish hatcheries in Bouaké, Bamoro, and Korhogo. Commercial fishing for tuna is carried on in the Gulf of Guinea; sardines are also caught in quantity. The total catch was 80,322 tons in 2000, almost 87% in Atlantic waters.

INSURANCE

There were over 30 insurance companies in Abidjan in 1999. Domestic companies accounted for almost 80% of the business. Third-party motor liability insurance is compulsory. In 2001, there was $47 million in life insurance premiums written.

DEPENDENCIES

Côte d'Ivoire has no territories or colonies.

Location, size, and extent

Topography

Climate

Flora and fauna

Environment

Population

Migration

Ethnic groups

Religions

Transportation

History

Government

Political parties

Local government

Judicial system

International cooperation

Economy

Income

Labor

Agriculture

Animal husbandry

Forestry

Mining

Energy and power

Industry

Science and technology

Domestic trade

Foreign trade

Balance of payments

Banking and securities

Public finance

Taxation

Customs and duties

Foreign investment

Economic development

Health

Housing

Education

Libraries and museums

Media

Organizations

Tourism, travel, and recreation

Famous ivoirians

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Background Notes, Côte d'Ivoire. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1998.

Dun and Bradstreet's Export Guide to Côte d'Ivoire. Parsippany, N.J.: Dun and Bradstreet, 1999.

Grootaert, Christiaan. Analyzing Poverty and Policy Reform: The Experience of Côte d'Ivoire. Brookfield, Mass.: Avebury, 1996.

Kakwani, Nanak. Poverty and Economic Growth. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 1990.

Mundt, Robert J. Historical Dictionary of the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire). 2d ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1995.

——. Historical Dictionary of the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire). Boulder, Colo.: netLibrary, Inc., 2000.

Rapley, John. Ivoirien Capitalism: African Entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire. Boulder, Colo.: L. Rienner Publishers, 1993.

Schneider, Hartmut. Adjustment and Equity in Côte d'Ivoire. Paris: Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1992.

Sheehan, Patricia. Côte d'Ivoire = Ivory Coast. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2000. [Juvenile]