Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe (Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe) is composed of two islands: Sao-Tomê and Principe.

Located in Western Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, off Gabon coastline Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E

Total area: 1,001 sq. km land (four times Singapore territory size):

Coastline: 209 km

Population: 159,883 (July 2000) 175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.16% (2000); 3.18% (2003 est.)

Capital-City: Sao Tome

Independence from Portugal: July 12,1975
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Natural resources: fish, hydropower

Agriculture productions: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Industrial production: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Sao Tome e Principe's economy became increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 26 years ago. Cocoa production, however, steadily declined from 90,000 metric tons in the mid 1970's to a bare 3,500-4,500 metric tons nowadays because of drought and mismanagement.

With an annual budget revenues averaging US$ 60 million (90% based on cocoa exportation in the mid 1970's) and non compressible expenditures in the range of US$114 million, the declining in cocoa production produced drastic drains on the country national budget with a resulting persistent balance-of-payments deficit.

Sao-Tomê e Principe authorities are always desperately in need of financing. Indeed, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food are imported. Over the years, servicing the external debt load bocome more and more difficult. The country depends on foreign aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from US$ 200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program.

However, Sao-Tomê e Principe's current poor country status could be overturned, in the very near future, to a rich one.

As one can see on the Africa's map at the left side, Sao-Tomê e Principe territory is right in the middle of the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea (where oil fields abound in Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Angola). Local authorities are hopeful that some oil fields might also be discovered in their maritime territories and help them enter the circle of oil rich countries.

Mobil Corporation - the international oil exploitation company - had been granted research permits; seismographic probing results are promising. If that dream becomes true the persisting balance-of-payments deficit problem will be solved and replaced by plenty of revenues. Click here for more

American and European companies are not the only one interested in investing in São Tomé's nascent oil industry. Nigeria and Sao Tome signed a joint commission agreement in 2002 to administer the resources in the maritime zone under an agreed sharing formula of 60 to 40.

On May 5, 2004 Chevron Texaco and ExxonMobil as well as a diversified indigenous business group, Dangote Group have won the first oil bloc in the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone.

Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and Sao Tomé's Fradique de Menezes approved the transaction, which signalled the first step towards the commencement of full oil exploration in the zone. Chevron-Texaco would serve as the main operator with 51 per cent stockholding, ExxonMobil has 40 per cent. The remaining nine per cent equity goes to Dangote Group

Chrome Energy (Environmental Remediation Holdings Corp or ERHC) has a treaty with São Tomé establishing a joint development zone in waters off both countries, allowing 60 percent of the revenue from the area to go to Nigeria. And Sonangol, Angola's state-controlled oil company, has reached a preliminary agreement to train São Toméan oil officials and invest in future projects.

MORE ON SAO TOME e PRINCIPE 1- D&B Export Guide To Sao Tome Digital Delivery In PDF by D&B 2- A Strategic Assessment of Sao Tome Digital Delivery In PDF 3- InVestment And Business Guide by Emerging Markets Investment Center 4- From Plantation Colony To Microstate by Tony Hodges, Malyn Newitt 5- More News On Sao Tome Y Principe by AllAfrica

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GNP: US$ 35 million (2000); 36.4 million (2001); 37.5 million (2002); 39.2 million (2003)
GNP- growth rate:3% (2000): 4% (2001); 4% (2002); 4.6% (2003)
GNP-per capita: US$ 187 (2001); US$ 222 (2003)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 25%
   

2. industry: 10%
   
3. services: 65%

Exports: US$ 4.1 million (f.o.b., 2001);5.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners: Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France 4.3%, Portugal 4.3% (2002)

Imports: US$ 40 million (f.o.b., 2001); 24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners: Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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A visa is required to enter Sao-Tomê e Principe territory and must be obtained in advance. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the nearest Sao-Tomê e Principe diplomatic representation.

Austria São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Margaretengürtel 1a. - 3a. 1050 Vienna / AUSTRIA Tel: +(43) 1 545 16 53 50 Fax: +(43) 1 545 16 53 46	USA Permanent Mission UNITED NATIONS 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168 Tel: +(1) 212 6974211
Belgium São Tomé & Príncipe Embassy Avenue de Tervuren, 175 1150 Brussels / Belgium Tel: +(32) 2 734 8966 Fax: +(32) 2 734 8815 E-mail: Click here	Portugal São Tomé & Príncipe Embassy Avenida Gago Coutinho N° 26 6° Piso Lisbon /Portugal Tel: +(351) 21 846 1917 Fax: +(351) 21 846 9119
UK São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Gayton Road Harrow - Middlessex London /UK Tel: +(44) 181 863 9001 Fax: +(44) 181 863 8651	Netherlands São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Keizersgracht 448 1016 GD Amsterdam / Netherlands Tel: +(31) 20 639 1756 Fax: +(31) 20 639 1259
Luxembourg São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Route d'Arlon 243/B.1 1150 Luxembourg Tel: +(352) 45 58 17 Fax: +(352) 44 67 58	Sweden São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate JLV Diplomatic Service BOX 26265 10040 Stockholm /Sweden Tel: +(46) 08 560 33986
FRANCE São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate 42, cours Pierre Puget 13006 MARSEILLES /France Tel: +(33) 4 91 33 96 69 Fax: +(33) 4 91 54 11 26 E-mail: Click here	FRANCE São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate 144, Boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris /FRANCE Tel: +(33) 1 42 56 25 75 Fax: +(33) 1 42 56 36 93
Germany São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Friedberger Strasse 173 D 61118 Bad Vibel /Germany Tel: +(49) 6101 55 1892 Fax: +(49) 6101 55 1955	Germany São Tomé & Príncipe Consulate Hannover Strasse 21 B D 30938 Burgwedel /Germany Tel: +(49) 513 95 093 Fax: +(49) 513 98 8998

Flight schedules of various air transport companies servicing Sao-Tomê e Principe territory are available here.

Sao-Tomê e Principe Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,587 GRT/34,802 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

Main ports and harbors: Sao Tomê on the Sao-Tomê Island and Santo Antonio on Principe Island.

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There are few hotels in Sao Tomé the Capital City and Santo Antonio in Principe island. They are below listed.