MARSHALL ISLANDS
(Republic of the Marshall Islands)

Capital: Majuro
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Population: 70 983 people
Language: English
GDP (PPS): Over 1 bln. dollars of the USA.
Area: 181,43 sq.km.
Visa: It is necessary

GEOGRAPHY

The Marshall Islands are located in a northern part of the Pacific Ocean and consist of 24 low coral atolls including 1156 certain islands and islands. These atolls and islands form two groups: a chain of Ratak and a chain Ralik (that means "sunrise" and "decline"). The general landscape - sandy as the majority of these islands rises by only several feet above sea level, and the highest point is an anonymous hill on Likip who reaches a point of 32 feet (10 m). As the island nation, the Marshall Islands have no borders of sushi. However nearby islands include the island of Ueyk (North), Kiribati (southeast), Nauru (South) and the Federal States of Micronesia (West).

ECONOMY

The economy of the Marshall Islands is closely connected with economy of the United States, and its GDP occurs mainly due to payments of the USA according to terms of agreement about free association. The garrison of U.S. Army on the atoll of Kwajalein is the second employer in RMI. Within the Agreement the United States give considerable financial support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for assistance to achievement of the goals of the Company in the field of economic self-sufficiency. The United States are one of the main trade partners of the Marshall Islands, and the Marshall Islands showed interest in attraction of investments into the USA. The Marshall Islands sell the rights for fishing to other countries as an income source. According to the multilateral contract on fishery of a tuna on islands of the Pacific Ocean of the USA provide an annual grant to the Pacific island parties, including the Marshall Islands, for access on the licensed fishing boats.

POLICY

Having received military control over the Marshall Islands from Japan in 1944, the United States undertook administrative control over the Marshall Islands under the auspices of the United Nations as a part of the ward of the territory of the Pacific islands after the end of World War II. The Marshall Islands in 1983 signed the contract on free association with the United States and gained independence in 1986 with the introduction of the Contract in force. In 1999-2003 both countries agreed about brought in the Agreement to the amendment which came into force in 2004.

WEATHER

During the most part of year weather hot and damp, with constant average daily high temperature to 80 °F. The rain falls within a year and the heaviest in the southern atolls where the general indicators approach 160 inches a year. In the north of 20 inches a year is norm. A rainy season - from May to November. Islands are located approximately halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Geographically the country is a part of larger island group of Micronesia.