1. SWAZILAND
SWAZILAND IS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, BETWEEN MOZAMBIQUE AND SOUTH AFRICA. AUTONOMY FOR THE SWAZIS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA WAS GUARANTEED BY THE BRITISH IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, INDEPENDENCE WAS GRANTED ON THE 16TH SEPTEMBER 1968.
DESPITE BEING CLASIFIED AS A LOWER MIDDLE INCOME DEVELOPING COUNTRY, 66% OF SWAZILAND’S POPULATION LIVES BELLOW THE POVERTY LINE. SOME 70% OF THE POPULATION LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND THE ECONOMY IS STILL LARGELY BASED ON AGRICULTURE.

2. INTERESTING FACTS UNEMPLOYEMENT RATES WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 34% IN 2000
POPULATION BELLOW POVERTY LINE IS ESTIMATED AT 40%
EXTERNAL DEBT: $320 MILLION
ECONOMIC AID RECIPIENT: $104 MILLION

3. ECONOMY, AID AND DEBT
IN THIS SMALL LANDLOCKED ECONOMY, SUBSISTANCE AGRICULTURE OCCUPIES MORE THAN 80% OF THE POPULATION.
MORE THAN ONE-FORTH OF THE POPULATION NEEDED EMERGENCY FOOD AID IN 2004 BECAUSE OF DROUGHT, AND MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE ADULT POPULATION WAS INFECTED BY HIV/AIDS
SWAZILAND IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE AFRICAN UNION, COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
THE UNITED STATES ASSISTED SWAZILAND WITH THE HIV/AIDS INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE US AGENCY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CENTRES FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE PEACE CORPS AND THE AFRICA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

4. COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA IS LOCATED IN CENTRAL AMERICA, BORDERING BOTH THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN, BETWEEN NICARAGUE AND PANAMA.
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COSTA RICA IS A CENTRAL AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY: SINCE THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, ONLY TWO BRIEF PERIODS OF VIOLENCE HAVE MARRED ITS DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT. ALTHOUGH STILL A LARGELY AGRICULTURAL COUNTRY, IT HAS EXPANDED ITS ECONOMY TO INCLUDE STRONG TECHNOLOGY AND TOURISM SECTORS. THE STANDARDS OF LIVING ARE RELATIVELY HIGH. LAND OWNERSHIP IS WIDE SPREAD.

5. INTERESTING FACTS CAPITAL: SAN JOSE
INDEPENDENCE: 15 SEPTEMBER 1821 (FROM SPAIN)
UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE: 6.6%
POPULATION BELLOW POVERTY LINE: 18%
CLIMATE: TROPICAL+ SUBTROPICAL; DRY SEASON (DEC-APRL),RAINY SEASON (MAY TO NOV)
NATURAL REASOURCES: HYDROPOWER

6. ECONOMY,TRADE, DEBT AND AID
FOREIGN INVESTERS REMAIN ATTRACTED BY THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL STABILITY AND HIGH EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, AND TOURISM CONTINUES TO BRING IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE. LOW PRICES FOR COFFEE AND BANANAS HAVE HURT THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO GRAPPLE WITH ITS LARGE DEFICIT AND MASSIVE INTERNAL DEBT.
PUBLIC DEBT: 58% OF GDP
EXTERNAL DEBT: $5.962 BILLION
EXPORTS: COFFEE, BANANAS, SUGAR, PINEAPPLES, TEXTILES, ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, MEDICAL EQUIPTMENT
CURRENCY: COSTA RICA COLON (CRC)
EXPORT PARTNERS: NETHERLANDS 53%, USA 46.9%, GUATAMALA 4.4%
COSTA RICA RECENTLY CONCLUDED NEGOTIATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE US-CENTRAL AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, WHICH, IF RATIFIED BY THE COSTA RICAN LEGISLATURE, WOULD RESULT IN ECONOMIC REFORMS AND AN IMPROVED INVESTMENT CLIMATE.