Now thankfully on the road to recovery after its war with neighbouring Ethiopia, the East African state of Eritrea has begun planning its first ever democratic elections, which are due to take place in December 2001.

In the meantime, the Eritrean Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) has drawn up a shortlist of industries that it considers will most likely contribute in the long term to the rebuilding of the nation’s shattered economy, with leather goods production and livestock being among the front runners. Nevertheless, the main driving force behind growth in 2001-02 will remain donor money, said the unit, aimed at post-war reconstruction and the resettlement of displaced populations.

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