Algerian Economy
Most important money makers to Algeria’s economy are oil and agriculture. But large parts of the revenues from oil do not reach the average Algerianbecause of corruption and badly planned projects. Algeria’s economy is to a major degree decided by the present political situation. Before the civil war started around 1992, Algeria had a fairly diversified economy, and the frames of this have probably survived the clashes that still take place.
Other industries are aiming at the domestic market as well as export of semi-refined goods to Europe. This industry has suffered heavily political situation over the recent years.Agriculture has suffered from the same politics, and has been little advanced since the colonial period. Inefficiency, and low input have made Algeria turn from a net exporter to a net importer of food.
The welfare system, once working well in Algeria, has gradually weakened to such a level that in many areas only the voluntary Islamists had anything to offer the sick, the poor and the unemployed. Slum, real slum, so rare in the Muslim world, has become a real problem in many of the country’s larger cities. Living standards among Algerians have dropped dramatically during the last 10-15 years, but this is more a reason for today’s political situation, than the result of it. Algeria has had a considerable middle class and upper class, and a growing portion of the population has fallen outside the benefits of the society.
Currency: Dinar=100 centimes
100 dinars=US$1.26. US$1=79.43 dinar (May, 2003)
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An introduction to South Africa
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Shopping in Algeria
Look around carefully, try to get a hold on what are good prices. In most cases, you will be able to find the same products even in the next town, so never feel pressed to buy in one specific place. Depending on how much you get for your money when changing into Algerian dinars, there are quite a lot of nice things to buy in Algeria. There are a good lot of carpets to find around, patterns that vary from one region to another, and which are distinct for Algeria. Jewellery and wood items are other fine things
Algeria - People and Safety Issues
Travelling around Algeria for foreigners is strongly controlled these days, the authorities are very much conserned about not detroying their international reputation more. A zone stretching from Algiers, along the coast, until Oran in the west of Algeria, is reported to be the only area where tourists can move around in. Foreign workers have only access to those areas where the authorities feel that they guarantee people's safety.
Algeria has not been high on traveller's lists in the last years. Civil strife has since 1992 torn the country, and its people, into fragments. The country's international
Malawi: Economy
GDP: US$ 1.7bn (2003)
GDP per capita: US$155 (2003)
Annual Growth: 4.4% (2003)
Inflation: 14.9% (2004 Projected)
Major Industries: Tobacco, Tea, Sugar, Sawmill Products, Cement and Consumer Goods
Main Imports: Food, Petroleum Products, Semi-manufactures, Consumer Goods, Transportation Equipment
Main Exports: Tobacco, Tea, Sugar, Textiles, Coffee, Cotton and Peanuts
Major Trading Partners: South Africa, Germany, US, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Netherlands, UK, Japan
Malawi faces serious problems. The UN Human Development index grades Malawi 165 out of 177 countries and the tenth poorest country in the world. It has few exploitable resources apart from land, which is at serious risk of degradation as a result of population pressure and
