An Introduction to Guinea
The Republic of Guinea (formerly French Guinea) is sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from neighbouring Guinea-Bissau. Colonised in the 1890s by France, Guinea gained independence in 1958 and endured fifty years of autocratic rule, becoming in the process one of the poorest countries in the world. Presidents Toure and Conte each ruled for around a quarter of a century but failed to bring'economic stability despite rich natural resources, including aluminium. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: republic
AREA: 245,857 sq km
POPULATION: 10,601,009 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: French
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Guinea
It's also where the Guinea Fowl comes from. The ancestors of the domesticated Guinea Fowl we know today were introduced into Europe from Guinea during the late fifteenth century, and from there, particularly from Great Britain, the breed was taken by colonists to many other parts of the world including North America.
Guinea Pigs, however, are not only not pigs - which you probably knew - but they are not from Guinea.
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The Republic of Guinea (formerly French Guinea) is sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from neighbouring Guinea-Bissau. Colonised in the 1890s by France, Guinea gained independence in 1958 and endured fifty years of autocratic rule, becoming in the process one of the poorest countries in the world. Presidents Toure and Conte each ruled for around a quarter of a century but failed to bring'economic stability despite rich natural resources, including aluminium.
However, after a period under a military junta, the country held its first 'free and fair' democratic elections in November 2010.
GDP: $10.81 billion (2010 est.) - $1,000 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Currency: Guinean Franc (GNF) - GBP 1 = GNF 11,458
Telephone Code: +224
Guinea's substantial mineral wealth includes diamonds, gold, and a quarter or more of the world's known bauxite reserves. Given that its mountains are the source for the major rivers of west Africa, there is great potential for hydroelectric power, but at present agriculture employs 80% of the workforce.
Guinea has some major proposed investments which could help to kick-start its economy. Global Alumina and Alcoa / Alcan have proposals in for alumina refineries priced at $2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively, while the Chinese International Fund announced in 2009 it would invest more than $7bn in the country's infrastructure.
Guinea exported $1.329bn in 2010 made up largely of bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish and agricultural products and sent to Europe, Asia and North America, with Spain the biggest taker partner. Imports valued at $1.4bn consisted of petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles and food, with China, the Netherlands, France and the UK foremost.
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