COMOROS AND DJIBOUTI

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COMOROS
GEOGRAPHY
The Comoros consist of four islands and several islets in the western Indian Ocean. They were formed by Volcanic Activity.
Three of the islands are members of an independent country, The Union of the Comoros and are named in their Comorian Language. These are: * Ngazidja (Grande Comore): the youngest and largest of the islands, has a massive, active volcano and recent lava flows * Mwali (Mohéli): smallest, mountainous, no recent lava activity * Nzwani (Anjouan): mountainous, no recent lava activity
The fourth island is a department of France and its name is in French: * Maore (Mayotte): ancient volcanic island with highly eroded mountains and slow, meandering streams
The capital and largest city, Moroni, is located on Ngazidja. The Comoros Archipelago is situated in the Indian Ocean, in the Mozambique Channel, between the African coast (nearest to Mozambique and Tanzania) and Madagascar, with no land borders.
At 2,235 km2, it is one of the smallest countries in the world. The Comoros also has claim to 320 km2 of territorial seas. The interiors of the islands vary from steep mountains to low hills. The climate is generally tropical and mild, and the two major seasons are distinguishable by their relative raininess.

ECONOMY * Comoros is one of the world's poorest countries. * Economic growth and poverty reduction are major priorities for the government. * Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy, and 38.4% of the working population is employed in the primary sector. * In 2004 Comoros' real GDP growth was a low 1.9% and real GDP per capita continued to decline. These declines are explained by factors including declining investment, drops in consumption, rising inflation, and an increase in trade imbalance due in part to lowered cash crop prices, especially vanilla. * Comoros has an inadequate transportation system, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. * The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. * Agriculture contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. * Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, and a large producer of vanilla. * The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. * The currency of the country is the Comorian Franc (KMF).

POLITY * Politics of the Union of the Comoros takes place in a framework of a federal presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. * Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. * President: Ikililou Dhoinine * Vice Presidents: * Fouad Mohadji * Mohamed Ali Soilih * Nourdine Bourhane
TRADE
* OHADA is the main Trade Organisation in Comoros. OHADA is the French acronym for "Organisation pour l'Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires", which translates into English as "Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa". * In 2012, Exports of Comoros accounted to about $19.6 Million. * Maine Exports of Comoros consists of Vanilla, Ylang-Ylang (Perfume Essence), Cloves and Copra. * In 2012, Imports of Comoros accounted to about $208 Million. * Maine Exports of Comoros consists of Rice and other foodstuffs, Consumer Goods, Petroleum Products, Cement and Transport Equipment.

MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS * Major Export Partners: 1. Netherlands 58.8% 2. Singapore 10.6% 3. Turkey 9.3% 4. France 5.6% 5. India 5.0% * Major Import Partners: 1. Pakistan 16.9% 2. France 13.9% 3. United Arab Emirates 11.0% 4. India 8.3% 5. China 6.5% 6. Kenya 5.8% 7. Singapore 5.1%
MAJOR COMOROS EXPORTS TO INDIA * Coffee, Tea, Mate and Spices * Iron and Steel

MAJOR INDIAN EXPORTS TO COMOROS * Meat and Edible Meat Offal * Dairy Produce; Natural Honey; Bird’s Eggs * Cereals * Salt; Sulphur; Lime and Cement * Cotton * Textile Articles * Apparel * Clothing Accessories * Iron and Steel * Aluminium and its Articles * Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances * Furniture; Bedding, Mattresses, Cushions, Lamps and Lighting Fittings

DOING BUSINESS RANKING
Comoros is ranked 158 in Doing Business Ranking’2013.

POTENTIAL COMMODITIES OF INDIAN EXPORTS TO COMOROS * Edible Vegetables * Products of Milling Industry * Wheat Gluten * Preparations of Cereals, Flour, Starch or Milk * Pharmaceutical Products * Plastic and articles thereof * Rubber and articles thereof * Articles of Paper Pulp * Ceramic Products * Toys, Games and Sports Requisites

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
There has been good progress on several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Comoros is on track to achieve the universal primary education goal (MDG2) and HIV/AIDS (MDG6), with progress on poverty (MDG1) and water access (MDG7). The country also made progress toward reducing child mortality (MDG4) and maternal health (MDG5), indicators that many other countries have found very difficult to achieve. One of the most challenging targets, especially in the wake of the food price crisis, will be to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

DJIBOUTI GEOGRAPHY
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast.
The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east. Djibouti occupies a total area of just 23,200 km2 (8,958 sq mi). * Djibouti is a multi-ethnic nation with a population of over 790,000 inhabitants. * The Somali and Afar make up the two largest ethnic groups. * Both speak Afro-Asiatic languages, which serve as recognized national languages. Arabic and French constitute the country's two official languages. * About 94% of residents adhere to Islam, a religion that has been predominant in the region for more than 1,000 years. * Djibouti is strategically located near the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It serves as a key refuelling and trans shipment centre, and is the principal maritime port for imports to and exports from neighbouring Ethiopia. * It lies between latitudes 10° and 13°N, and longitudes 41° and 44°E. * The country's coastline stretches 314 kilometres (195 miles), with terrain consisting mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. * Its borders extend 506 km (314 mi), 113 km (70 mi) of which are shared with Eritrea, 337 km (209 mi) with Ethiopia, and 58 km (36 mi) with Somalia.

ECONOMY

* Djibouti's economy is largely concentrated in the service sector. * Commercial activities revolve around the country's free trade policies and strategic location as a Red Sea transit point. * Due to limited rainfall, vegetables and fruits serve as the principal production crops, and other food items require importation. * The GDP in 2012 was estimated at $2.377 billion, with a real growth rate of 4.8% annually. Per capita income was around $2,700. * Owing to its growth potential, the fishing and agro-processing sector, which represents around 15% of GDP, has also enjoyed rising investment since 2008. * The Djiboutian franc is the currency of Djibouti. It is issued by the Central Bank of Djibouti, the country's monetary authority. * As of 2010, 10 conventional and Islamic banks operate in Djibouti.

POLITY

* Djibouti is a semi-presidential republic, with executive power resting in the central government, and legislative power in both the government and the Djiboutian National Assembly. * The current President is Ismaïl Omar Guelleh * He is the pre-eminent figure in Djiboutian politics; the head of state and commander-in-chief. The President shares executive power with his or her appointee * The Prime Minister is Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed. The Council of Ministers (cabinet) is responsible to the legislature and presided over by the President. * The judicial system consists of courts of first instance, a High Court of Appeal, and a Supreme Court. The legal system is a blend of French civil law, Sharia (Islamic law) and customary law of the Somali and Afar people. * The National Assembly (formerly the Chamber of Deputies) is the country's legislature, consisting of 65 members elected every five years.]Although unicameral, the Constitution provides for the creation of a Senate. * The last election was held on 8 February 2008. * Djibouti is a one party dominant state, with the People's Rally for Progress(RPP) controlling the legislature and the executive since its foundation in 1979 (the party currently rules as a part of the Union for a Presidential Majority, which holds all seats). Opposition parties are allowed limited freedom, but the main opposition party, the Union for National Salvation, boycotted the 2005 and 2008 elections, citing government control of the media and repression of the opposition candidates.

TRADE
Djibouti’s Export Basket majorly comprise of: * Coffee * Salt * Hides * Dried beans * Cereals * Wax

MAJOR EXPORTS FROM INDIA TO DJIBOUTI

* Primary & Semi-finished Iron & Steel * Manufactures of Metals, Sugar, Machinery & Instruments * Transport Equipment * Rubber Manufactured Products * Petroleum Products * Pharmaceutical Products * Electronic Goods

MAJOR EXPORTS FROM DJIBOUTI TO INDIA

* Boilers * Machinery * Nuclear Reactors * Animal, Vegetable Fats and Oils * Cereals * Electrical and Electronic Equipment * Mineral fuels * Oils DOING BUSINESS RANKING
Djibouti is ranked 177 in Doing Business Ranking’2013. MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS * Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from Hunger. * Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education * Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and to all levels of education no later than 2015 * Goal 4. Reduce child mortality * Goal 5. Improve maternal health * Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases * Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability * Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development