Economy of Bangui

Central African Republic (CAR) is self-sufficient in food with staples like maize, groundnut, millet, rice, cassava and sesame grown in ample quantities in the country. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people and the main export crop is coffee. Forestry comes next with huge quantities of timber being exported although depletion of forests is becoming an issue of concern with environmentalists now. Wax, rubber, tobacco, leather and livestock are other export commodities.

The mining industry is yet to come of age despite huge deposits of diamond, gold, uranium, copper, and manganese and iron ore. The slow pace of the economy can be blamed on the lack of infrastructure and apathy of the government to tap into resources. France, Belgium and Luxembourg provide the country with financial aid. They are also the country’s main exporters.