Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common
Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp
BASILIUS
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC,
SPF, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim
Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB
chancery: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G.
WATKINS
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911
Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP real growth rate: NA%