Economic aid—recipient: $290 million (1998)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1—4,217 (January 1999),
3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),
717.67 (1994)
note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
Communications
Telephones: 28,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public is poor but improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 580,000 (1995)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)