Comoros

Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002.

Main Airports

Moroni International Prince Said Ibrahim (HAH)

U.S. Embassy

The U.S.is being represented by a nonresident Ambassador in Madagascar; 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
tel: 261-20-22-212-57

Statistics

GDP: purchasing power parity:

$441 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:

600 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

144,500 (1996 est.)

Exports:

$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - partners:

France 27.9%, Singapore 16.9%, Japan 15.2%, Germany 13.8%, US 5.9%, Netherlands 5.1% (2005)

Imports:

$115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - partners:

France 20.8%, South Africa 11.9%, UAE 9.2%, Kenya 8.1%, Pakistan 5.1%, Mauritius 4.5%, Belgium 4.3% (2005)

Population:

690,948 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.87% (2006 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line:

60% (2002 est.)

Major Industries:

fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Employing Workers: 149*

Registering Property: 83*

Enforcing Contracts: 167*

Closing a Business: 151*

*2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries

Starting a Business

The table below shows the number of steps and the amount of time needed to start a business, on average

Indicator	Comoros	Region
Procedures (number)	11	11.1
Time (days)	23	61.8

Comoros Risk Assessment

Country Rating

Rating: D

A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behaviour. Corporate default probability is very high.

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