São Tomé e Príncipe Business

GDP: US$142 million (2007).
Main exports: Cocoa, copra, coffee and palm oil.
Main imports: Food, fuel, machinery and electrical equipment.
Main trade partners: Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and USA.

Economy

The economy is based on the export of agricultural products, especially cocoa, palm oil, bananas, coffee and coconuts. This concentration on cash crops, especially cocoa (most of which is exported) means that the country has to import most of its food.

Elimination of its debt a high priority for the government and it will be able to do this once revenues begin to flow from the oil and gas fields recently discovered in São Tomé's territorial waters.

The government hopes to promote the currently minute tourism industry.

Economic performance in recent years has been improving and is expected to get even better as revenue from oil starts to come in. Growth in 2007 was at 6.5%, with inflation at 17%.

Business Etiquette

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1500-1800, Sat 0800-1200.

Business Contacts

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation
Avenue 12 July, CP 111, São Tomé
Tel: (2) 22662. 
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