Trinidad And Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago                                        
                                                                       
  Flag of Trinidad and Tobago is red with a white-edged black diagonal band   
  from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side.                            
                                                                       
  PROFILE                                                                     
                                                                       
  OFFICIAL NAME:                                                              
  Republic of Trinidad and Tobago                                              
                                                                       
  Geography                                                                   
  Area: 5,128 sq. km. (1,980 sq. mi.), about the size of Delaware.            
  Trinidad--4,828 sq. km. (1,864 sq. mi). Tobago--300 sq. km. (116 sq. mi).   
  Cities: Capital--Port of Spain (metropolitan pop. 310,000). Other cities--San
  Fernando, Chaguanas, Arima, Scarborough. (Tobago)                           
  Terrain: Plains and low mountains.                                          
  Climate: Tropical; principal rainy season is June through December.         
                                                                       
  People                                                                      
  Nationality: Noun and adjective--Trinidadian(s) and Tobagonian(s). (NOTE: A 
  popular combination name for Trinidadians and Tobagonians is Trinbagonians) 
  Population (2006 est): 1,297,944                                            
  Annual growth rate: 0.3%.                                                   
  Ethnic groups (2000): East Indian 40.0%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, European
  0.6%, Chinese 0.3%, other/not stated 1.1%.                                  
  Religions (2000): Roman Catholic 26.0%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%,         
  Pentecostal 6.8%, Baptist 7.2%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh  
  Day Adventist 4%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9%.                 
  Language: English.                                                          
  Education: Years compulsory--8. Literacy--98.6%.                            
  Health: Infant mortality rate (2005 est.)- 25.81/1,000. Life expectancy (2006
  est.)--66 yrs. male; 68 yrs. female.                                        
  Work force (628,400 in 2006): Trade and services 41.7%, construction 17.9%, 
  government 22.9%, manufacturing 8.6%, agriculture/sugar 4.2%, oil/gas 3.2%, 
  utilities 1.5%.                                                             
                                                                       
  Government                                                                  
  Type: Parliamentary democracy.                                              
  Independence: August 31, 1962.                                              
  Present constitution: September 24, 1976.                                   
  Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of    
  government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral parliament.                    
  Judicial--independent court system; highest court of appeal is Privy Council
  (London).                                                                   
  Subdivisions: Nine regional corporations, two city corporations, three      
  borough corporations, one ward (Trinidad); Tobago House of Assembly.        
  Political parties: People's National Movement (PNM); United National Congress
  (UNC); Congress of the People (COP); other minor parties, including the     
  much-diminished National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR).                 
  Suffrage: Universal at 18.                                                  
                                                                       
  Economy (2006 est)                                                          
  GDP: U.S. $18.14 billion (market prices).                                   
  Annual growth rate: 8% (2005), 12% (2006 preliminary).                      
  Per capita income: U.S. $13,978.                                            
  Natural resources: Oil and natural gas, timber, fish.                       
  Petroleum (crude oil, natural gas, petrochemicals): 20.6% of GDP.           
  Financial services: 7.5% of GDP.                                            
  Distribution including restaurants: 3.2% of GDP.                            
  Manufacturing (food and beverages, assembly, chemicals, printing): 11.8% of 
  GDP.                                                                        
  Construction and Quarrying: 14.5% of GDP.                                   
  Transport/storage/communication: 4.0% of GDP.                               
  Government: 1.5% of GDP.                                                    
  Education, cultural community services: 9.4% of GDP.                        
  Electricity and water: 2.2% of GDP.                                         
  Agriculture (sugar, poultry, other meat, vegetables, citrus): 0.6% of GDP.  
  Hotels and guesthouses: 1.7% of GDP.                                        
                                                                       
  PEOPLE AND HISTORY                                                          
  Columbus landed on and named Trinidad in 1498, and Spaniards settled the    
  island a century later. Spanish colonizers largely wiped out the original   
  inhabitants--Arawak and Carib Indians--and the survivors were gradually     
  assimilated. Although it attracted French, free black, and other non-Spanish
  settlers, Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the British captured it
  in 1797. During the colonial period, Trinidad's economy relied on large sugar
  and cocoa plantations. Tobago's development was similar to other plantation 
  islands in the Lesser Antilles and quite different from Trinidad. During the
  colonial period, French, Dutch, and British forces fought over possession of
  Tobago, and the island changed hands 22 times--more often than any other West
  Indies island. Britain took final possession of Tobago in 1803. The two     
  islands of Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in    
  1888. Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence in 1962 and joined the 
  British Commonwealth. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976.        
                                                                       
  The people of Trinidad and Tobago are mainly of African or East Indian      
  descent. Virtually all speak English. Small percentages also speak Hindi,   
  French patois, and several other dialects. Trinidad has two major folk      
  traditions: Creole and East Indian. Creole is a mixture of African elements 
  with Spanish, French, and English colonial culture. Trinidad's East Indian  
  culture came to the island[INS: :INS]beginning May 30, 1845 with the arrival
  of indentured servants brought to fill a labor shortage created by the      
  emancipation of the African slaves in 1838. Most remained on the land, and  
  they still dominate the agricultural sector, but many have become prominent 
  in business and the professions. East Indians have retained much of their own
  way of life, including Hindu and Muslim religious festivals and practices.  
                                                                       
  GOVERNMENT                                                                  
  Trinidad and Tobago is a unitary state, with a parliamentary democracy      
  modeled after that of Great Britain. Although completely independent,       
  Trinidad and Tobago acknowledged the British monarch as the figurehead chief
  of state from 1962 until 1976. In 1976 the country adopted a republican     
  Constitution, replacing Queen Elizabeth with a president elected by         
  Parliament. The general direction and control of the government rests with  
  the cabinet, led by a prime minister and answerable to the bicameral        
  Parliament.                                                                 
                                                                       
  The 36 members of the House of Representatives are elected to terms of at   
  least 5 years. Elections may be called earlier by the president at the      
  request of the prime minister or after a vote of no confidence in the House 
  of Representatives. At the next general election, due to take place by the  
  end of 2007, the number of seats contested in the House of Representatives  
  will increase from 36 to 41. The Senate's 31 members are appointed by the   
  president: sixteen on the advice of the prime minister, six on the advice of
  the leader of the opposition, and nine independents selected by the president
  from among outstanding members of the community. Elected councils administer
  the nine regional, two city, and three borough corporations on Trinidad.    
  Since 1980 the Tobago House of Assembly has governed Tobago with limited    
  responsibility for local matters.                                           
                                                                       
  The country's highest court is the Court of Appeal, whose chief justice is  
  appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and   
  leader of the opposition. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in    
  London decides final appeal on some matters. Member states of the Caribbean 
  Community (CARICOM) selected Trinidad as the headquarters site for the new  
  Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is intended eventually to replace the
  Privy Council for all CARICOM states. The CCJ heard its first case in August
  2005. Despite having its seat in Port of Spain, the CCJ has not yet         
  supplanted the Privy Council for Trinidad and Tobago due to a legislative   
  dispute over constitutional reform.                                         
                                                                       
  Principal Government Officials                                              
  President--George Maxwell Richards                                          
  Prime Minister--Patrick Manning                                             
  Attorney General--John Jeremie                                              
  Chief Justice--Satnarine Sharma                                             
                                                                       
  Selected Short List of Key Ministers                                        
  Minister of Foreign Affairs--Arnold Piggott                                 
  Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Public Administration--Lenny   
  Saith                                                                       
  Minister of Finance--Patrick Manning                                        
  Minister of National Security--Martin Joseph                                
  Minister of Tourism--Howard Chin Lee                                        
  Minister of Trade and Industry--Kenneth Valley                              
  Ambassador to the U.S. and to the OAS--Marina Valere                        
  Ambassador to the UN--Phillip Sealey                                        
  The embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is located at 1708       
  Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-467-6490; fax.      
  202-785-3130).                                                              
                                                                       
  POLITICAL CONDITIONS                                                        
  The first political party in Trinidad and Tobago with a continuing          
  organization and program--the People's National Movement (PNM)--emerged in  
  1956 under Dr. Eric Williams, who became Prime Minister upon independence and
  remained in that position until his death in 1981. Politics have generally  
  run along ethnic lines, with Afro-Trinidadians supporting the PNM and       
  Indo-Trinidadians supporting various Indian-majority parties, such as the   
  United National Congress (UNC). Most political parties, however, have sought
  to broaden their appeal. Most notably, the Congress of the People,          
  established in September 2006 by Winston Dookeran, then Political Leader of 
  the UNC, and other defectors from that party, announced as its principal goal
  the creation of a non-race-based party which will embrace citizens of all   
  colors, ethnic groups and creeds.                                           
                                                                       
  The PNM remained in power following the death of Dr. Williams, but its      
  30-year rule ended in 1986 when the National Alliance for Reconstruction    
  (NAR), a rainbow party aimed at Trinidadians of both African and Indian     
  descent, won a landslide victory by capturing 33 of 36 seats. Tobago's A.N.R.
  Robinson, the NAR political leader, became Prime Minister. The NAR began to 
  break down when the Indian component withdrew in 1988. Basdeo Panday, leader
  of the old United Labor Front (ULF), formed the new opposition with the UNC.
                                                                       
  In July 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, an extremist Black Muslim group with 
  an unresolved grievance against the government over land claims, tried to   
  overthrow the NAR government. The group held the prime minister and members 
  of parliament hostage for 5 days while rioting and looting shook Port of    
  Spain. After a long standoff with the police and military, Jamaat leader    
  Yasin Abu Bakr and his followers surrendered to Trinidad and Tobago         
  authorities. In 1992 the Court of Appeal upheld the validity of a government
  amnesty given to the Jamaat members during the hostage crisis. Abu Bakr and 
  113 other Jamaat members were jailed for two years while other courts debated
  the amnesty's validity. All 114 members were eventually released after a    
  ruling by the U.K. Privy Council.                                           
                                                                       
  In 1991 elections, the NAR lost control of the government to the PNM, led by
  Patrick Manning who became prime minister. The Panday-led UNC finished second
  and replaced the NAR as chief opposition party. In 1995 Manning called for  
  elections, in which the PNM and UNC both won 17 seats and the NAR won two   
  seats. The UNC allied with the NAR and formed the new government, with Panday
  becoming prime minister--the first prime minister of East Indian descent.   
  Although elections held in 2000 returned the UNC to power, the UNC government
  fell in 2001 with the defection of three of its parliamentarians, and the   
  subsequent elections resulted in an even 18-18 split between the UNC and the
  PNM. President A.N.R. Robinson ironically bypassed his former party colleague
  Panday by inviting PNM leader Manning to form a government, but the inability
  to break the tie delayed Parliament from meeting. Manning called elections in
  2002, following which the PNM formed the next government with a 20-16       
  majority. The next elections must be held by the end of 2007, and both the  
  PNM and the UNC, as well as the COP have been preparing for those polls.    
  Manning shows every indication of intending to continue in office. Panday was
  forced to step down as leader of the opposition in 2006 after his conviction
  for failing to file a complete declaration of assets to the Integrity       
  Committee. However, in 2007 his conviction was quashed, and despite the fact
  that a retrial was ordered, he returned to lead the UNC into the next       
  election.                                                                   
                                                                       
  All three major parties are committed to free market economic policies and  
  increased foreign investment. Trinidad and Tobago has remained cooperative  
  with the United States in the regional fight against narcotics trafficking  
  and on other issues.                                                        
                                                                       
  ECONOMY                                                                     
  The twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago continues to experience real  
  GDP growth as a result of economic reforms, tight monetary policy, fiscal   
  responsibility, and high oil prices. In 2006 the country experienced a real 
  GDP growth rate of 12%, which followed 8% growth in 2005. The PNM-led       
  government continues its sound macroeconomic policies. Long-term growth looks
  promising, as Trinidad and Tobago further develops its oil and gas resources
  and the industries dependent on natural gas, including petrochemicals,      
  fertilizers, iron/steel and aluminum. Additional growth potential also exists
  in financial services, telecommunications and transport. Strong growth in   
  Trinidad and Tobago over the past few years has led to trade surpluses, even
  with high import levels due to industrial expansion and increased consumer  
  demand. The debt service ratio, was a moderate 4.7% in 2004, and fell to 2.5%
  in 2005. In 2006, unemployment fell to 5% down from 6.7% in 2005. Headline  
  inflation peaked at 10% (year-on-yar) in October 2006, then moderating to   
  8.0% as of March 2007. Food price inflation slowed to 18.8% (year-on-year) in
  March 2007, down from 22% in October 2006. During 2006, the Central Bank has
  raised interest rates eight times for the year. However, since September    
  2006, the Bank has maintained the rate at 8.0%. There are no currency or    
  capital controls and the central bank maintains the TT dollar in a lightly  
  managed, stable float against the U.S. dollar. The exchange rate as of May  
  10, 2007, was TT $6.31 to U.S. $1.                                          
                                                                       
  Trinidad and Tobago has made a transition from an oil-based economy to one  
  based on natural gas. In 2006, natural gas production averaged 4 million    
  standard cubit feet per day (mmscf/d), compared with 3.2 mmscf/d in 2005. The
  petrochemical sector, including plants producing methanol, ammonia, urea, and
  natural gas liquids, has continued to grow in line with natural gas         
  production, which continues to expand and should meet the needs of new      
  industrial plants coming on stream in the next few years, including iron,   
  aluminum, and ethylene. In December 2005, the Atlantic LNG fourth production
  module or "train" for liquefied natural gas (LNG) began production. Train 4 
  has increased Atlantic LNG's overall output capacity by almost 50% and is   
  among the largest LNG trains in the world at 5.2 million tons/year of LNG.  
  Trinidad and Tobago is the fifth-largest exporter of LNG in the world and the
  single largest supplier of LNG to the U.S., supplying 70% of all LNG imported
  into the U.S. The energy sector experienced strong growth in 2006, estimated
  at 20.6%, and accounted for 41.5% of GDP at that year's end.                
                                                                       
  Growth across the non-energy sector in 2006 slowed to 6.5%, down from 8.7% in
  2005. Manufacturing was the most dynamic, with 11.8% growth in 2006, led for
  the third consecutive year by food, beverages and tobacco (19%), and        
  assembly-type industries (11.1%). The services sector grew by 5.9%, led by  
  construction sector growth resulting from Trinidad and Tobago Government    
  investment in housing and infrastructure, and ongoing projects in the energy
  sector. Performance in the agriculture sector has been erratic and weak, with
  a 0.6% decline in output resulting largely from the shrinking and           
  restructuring of the sugar industry. The government is seeking to diversify 
  the economy to reduce dependence on the energy sector and to achieve        
  self-sustaining growth. The diversification strategy focuses on seven key   
  industries: yachting; fish and fish processing; merchant marine; music and  
  entertainment; film; food and beverage; and printing and packaging. A       
  National Research and Development Fund will be established to stimulate     
  innovation and investment in a technology park, to be constructed.          
                                                                       
  Trinidad and Tobago has an open investment climate. Since 1992, almost all  
  investment barriers have been eliminated. The government continues to welcome
  foreign investors. The government has a double taxation agreement, a        
  bilateral investment treaty and an intellectual property rights agreement   
  with the United States. The stock of U.S. direct investment in Trinidad and 
  Tobago was $1.98 billion as of 2005. Total foreign direct investment inflows
  average $700 million annually over the last decade. Among recent and ongoing
  investment projects are several involving U.S. firms: ISG Trinidad started  
  operations in November 2004 in a plant that has the capacity to produce     
  500,000 metric tons annually of hot briquetted iron. In December 2006 Nucor 
  began producing direct reduced iron for shipment to the U.S. at its plant in
  Trinidad, which has a production capacity of 2.0 million tons per year. Two 
  aluminum smelter plants are also planned, one of them to be owned by Alcoa. 
  The first major business-class hotel to be opened in several years bears the
  Marriott Courtyard brand. A Hyatt-managed hotel is scheduled to open in late
  2007, part of a multimillion-dollar port development project in Port of     
  Spain.                                                                      
                                                                       
  Trinidad and Tobago's infrastructure is adequate by regional standards.     
  Expansion of the Crown Point airport on Tobago is being planned, which      
  follows opening of the Piarco terminal on Trinidad in 2000. There is an     
  extensive network of paved roads. Traffic is a worsening problem throughout 
  Trinidad, as the road network is not well suited to the volume of vehicles  
  and only a rudimentary mass transport system exists as an alternative.      
  Utilities are fairly reliable in cities, but some rural areas suffer from   
  power failures, water shortages in the dry season, and flooding in the rainy
  season due to inadequate drainage. Infrastructure improvement is one of the 
  government's budget priorities, especially rehabilitating rural roads and   
  bridges, rural electrification, flood control, and improved drainage and    
  sewerage. The government is evaluating bids to construct a light rail system
  and is expected to award a contract for the design and planning phase of the
  project in mid-2007.                                                        
                                                                       
  Telephone service is modern and fairly reliable, although significantly more
  costly to consumers than comparable U.S. service, including for wireline,   
  wireless, and broadband services. Change began in the wireless market when  
  the new Telecommunications Authority invited two firms to offer competition 
  to state-owned monopoly incumbent TSTT (co-owned by Cable & Wireless). Two  
  wireless providers, Bmobile and Digicel are already operational, while a    
  third licensee, Laqtel, had not launched service as of May 2007. Long       
  distance, cable, and Internet services have not yet been deregulated, but the
  government has indicated that it will do so in those markets as well,       
  beginning with cable TV. Internet has come into widespread use, with        
  broadband access available in upscale business and residential areas, along 
  with a number of wireless "hot spots." Improvements in service and price are
  likely as TSTT prepares itself to meet competition for Internet services in 
  coming years.                                                               
                                                                       
  FOREIGN RELATIONS                                                           
  As the most industrialized and second-largest country in the English-speaking
  Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago has taken a leading role in the Caribbean    
  Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and strongly supports CARICOM economic
  integration efforts and has advocated for a greater measure of political    
  security and integration. CARICOM members are working to establish a Single 
  Market and Economy (CSME). In early 2006, Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction
  with the larger CARICOM nations, inaugurated the CARICOM Single Market, a   
  precursor to the full CSME. As a first step toward greater security         
  integration, Trinidad and Tobago and the other members of CARICOM           
  collaborated with the US on an Advance Passenger Information System in      
  preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup tournament, which took place in  
  nine Caribbean venues in March and April of 2007.                           
                                                                       
  Trinidad and Tobago is active in the Summit of the Americas (SOA) process of
  the Organization of American States (OAS). It recently hosted hemisphere-wide
  ministerial meetings on energy (2004) and education (2005), as well as an OAS
  meeting on terrorism and security (also 2005). It also hosted a negotiating 
  session in 2003 for the OAS Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and     
  aspires to hosting an eventual FTAA secretariat. It will host the SOA summit
  in 2009.                                                                    
                                                                       
  Trinidad and Tobago is a democracy that maintains close relations with its  
  Caribbean neighbors and major North American and European trading partners. 
  After its 1962 independence, Trinidad and Tobago joined the UN and the      
  Commonwealth. In 1967, it became the first Commonwealth country to join the 
  OAS. In 1995, Trinidad played host to the inaugural meeting of the          
  Association of Caribbean States and has become the headquarters location for
  this 25-member grouping, which seeks to further economic progress and       
  cooperation among its members.                                              
                                                                       
  U.S.-TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO RELATIONS                                          
  The United States and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy cordial relations. U.S.     
  interests here and throughout the hemisphere focus on increasing investment 
  and trade, and securing more stable supplies of energy. They also include   
  enhancing Trinidad and Tobago's political and social stability and positive 
  regional role through assistance in drug interdiction, health issues, and   
  legal affairs. The U.S. embassy was established in Port of Spain in 1962,   
  replacing the former consulate general.                                     
                                                                       
  International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military   
  Financing (FMF) programs were suspended in 2003 under the terms of the      
  American Service Members Protection Act (ASPA), because Trinidad and Tobago,
  a member of the International Criminal Court, had not concluded a bilateral 
  non-surrender or "Article 98" agreement with the United States. However, when
  the Congress de-linked IMET funding from the Article 98 sanctions, a nominal
  allocation of $45,000 in IMET was reinstated for late 2007. Currently, the  
  main source of financial assistance provided to the defense force is through
  State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement    
  funds, Traditional Commander's Activities funds, the State Partnership      
  Program (with Delaware), and IMET. Assistance to Trinidad and Tobago from   
  U.S. military, law enforcement authorities, and in the area of health issues
  remains important to the bilateral relationship and to accomplishing U.S.   
  policy objectives.                                                          
  The U.S. Government also provides technical assistance to the Government of 
  Trinidad and Tobago through a number of existing agreements. The Department 
  of Homeland Security has a Customs Advisory Team working with the Ministry of
  Finance to update its procedures. Similarly, the Treasury Department has an 
  Internal Revenue Service (IRS) advising team that works with the Board of   
  Inland Revenue modernizing its tax administration. The U.S. Centers for     
  Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a part of the Department of Health and
  Human Services, has a regional office here that collaborates with the       
  Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) and other regional partners to provide
  technical assistance and financial support for HIV/AIDS-related epidemiology
  surveillance and public health training in the region.                      
                                                                       
  U.S. commercial ties with Trinidad and Tobago have always been strong and   
  have grown substantially in the last several years due to economic          
  liberalization. U.S. firms have invested more than a billion dollars in     
  recent years--mostly in the petrochemical, oil/gas, and iron/steel sectors. 
  Many of America's largest corporations have commercial links with Trinidad  
  and Tobago, and more than 30 U.S. firms have offices and operations in the  
  country. Trinidad and Tobago is a beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin   
  Initiative (CBI). The U.S. embassy actively fosters bilateral business ties 
  and provides a number of commercial services to potential investors and     
  traders. A double-taxation agreement has existed since the early 1970s. A tax
  information exchange agreement was signed in 1989, and a Bilateral Investment
  Treaty (BIT) and an Intellectual Property Rights agreement were signed in   
  1994. The BIT entered into force in 1996. Other agreements include          
  Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance treaties, which have been in force  
  since 1999. An agreement on Maritime Cooperation was signed in 1996.        
                                                                       
  There are large numbers of U.S. citizens and permanent residents of         
  Trinidadian origin living in the United States (mostly in New York and      
  Florida), which keeps cultural ties strong. About 20,000 U.S. citizens visit
  Trinidad and Tobago on vacation or for business every year, and more than   
  4,600 American citizens are residents.                                      
                                                                       
  Principal U.S. Embassy Officials                                            
  Ambassador--Roy L. Austin                                                   
  Deputy Chief of Mission--Eugene P. Sweeney                                  
  Economic/Commercial Chief--John Ries                                        
  Political/INL Chief--Avraham Rabby                                          
  Consular Chief--Armando Armendariz                                          
  Management Officer--Terrence R. Flynn                                       
  Regional Security Officer--Mark Lewis                                       
  Public Affairs Officer--Michelle L. Jones                                   
                                                                       
  The U.S. Embassy is located at 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain (tel. 868
  622-6371, fax: 868 822-5905).                                               
                                                                       
  Other Contact Information                                                   
  U.S. Department of Commerce                                                 
  International Trade Administration                                          
  Trade Information Center                                                    
  14th and Constitution, NW                                                   
  Washington, DC 20230                                                        
  Tel: 1-800-USA-TRADE                                                        
  http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/                                                
  American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago                         
  62 Maraval Road, Woodbrook                                                  
  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago                                          
  Tel: (868) 622-4466, 622-0340 and 628-2508                                  
  Fax: (868) 628-9428                                                         
  E-mail: inbox@amchamtt.com                                                  
  http://www.amchamtt.com/                                                    
                                                                       
  TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION                                             
  The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises Americans
  traveling and residing abroad through Consular Information Sheets, Public   
  Announcements, and Travel Warnings. Consular Information Sheets exist for all
  countries and include information on entry and exit requirements, currency  
  regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime, political       
  disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
  Public Announcements are issued to disseminate information quickly about    
  terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that  
  pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings
  are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel 
  to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or unstable.        
                                                                       
  For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad  
  should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet
  web site at http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution,
  Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Consular Affairs    
  Publications, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a
  safe trip abroad, are also available at http://www.travel.state.gov. For    
  additional information on international travel, see http://www.usa.gov/     
  Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.                                  
                                                                       
  The Department of State encourages all U.S citizens who traveling or residing
  abroad to register via the State Department's travel registration website or
  at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Registration will make your
  presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an 
  emergency and will enable you to receive up-to-date information on security 
  conditions.                                                                 
                                                                       
  Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained 
  by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular   
  toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.           
                                                                       
  The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of   
  State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport         
  information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service   
  representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 7:00 
  a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.           
                                                                       
  Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for 
  Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP
  (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the
  most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements,
  and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A   
  booklet entitled "Health Information for International Travel" (HHS         
  publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government       
  Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.                 
                                                                       
  Further Electronic Information                                              
  Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://          
  www.state.gov, the Department of State web site provides timely, global     
  access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background    
  Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key officers of 
  Foreign Service posts and more. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
  provides security information and regional news that impact U.S. companies  
  working abroad through its website http://www.osac.gov                      
                                                                       
  Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and market    
  information offered by the federal government and provides trade leads, free
  export counseling, help with the export process, and more.                  
  STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides   
  authoritative economic, business, and international trade information from  
  the Federal government. The site includes current and historical            
  trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, 
  and country analysis and provides access to the National Trade Data Bank.   

 

***********************************************************
See http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/ for all Background notes
************************************************************
To change your subscription, go to http://www.state.gov/misc/echannels/66822.htm