Political pressure groups and leaders:
two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or
ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is United
Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-3, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and
red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign demand,
austere government budgets, and serious internal armed conflict.
Other economic problems facing the new president URIBE range from
reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. Two of
Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain
future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil
production, while coffee harvests and prices are depressed.
Colombian business leaders are calling for greater progress in
solving the conflict with insurgent groups. On the positive side,
several international financial institutions have praised the
economic reforms introduced by President URIBE and have pledged
enough funding to cover Colombia's debt servicing costs in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $251.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2002 est.)