Political parties and leaders:
Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development
Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG
On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New
Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the
US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag description:
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water
in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large
in center of arc and four smaller
Economy Macau
Economy - overview:
Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the
world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and
tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit
hard by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn
in 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in
2004. During the first three quarters of 2005, Macau registered
year-on-year GDP increases of 6.2%. A rapid rise in the number of
mainland visitors because of China's easing of travel restrictions,
increased public works expenditures, and significant investment
inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming
industry drove the four-year recovery. The budget also returned to
surplus since 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a
hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of
government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses
have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will
boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the
mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory
may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to
generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling
licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities
in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games led
the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1
January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to
the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was expanded
on 1 January 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10 billion (2004)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.05 billion (2004)