NationStates Jolt Archive

Bulgia

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/russia.jpg

Overview

Bulgia Republic (A.K.A. The Republic of Bulgia, the Bulgian Republic) is a relatively small low-middle income nation all but surrounded by the almost immeasurably larger Armed Republic of Carloginias.

In light of its potential precarious position and a lack of many vital natural resources within its territory -which is dominated by sprawling marshlands and primeval forests in which bears, wolves, and other wild beasts still roam- the nation is obliged frequently to take a conciliatory line when dealing with its giant neighbour.

Bulgia presently counts itself amongst the world's multi-party democracies and market-economies, but international indicators persistently place the nation almost as low on the list of free societies as high on the list of corrupt economies. The Office of the President exists independent of any political party and under the current Chief of State, Grigore Istok, ever more powers are being consolidated in the Presidency at the expense of the Office of the Prime Minister, the de jure Head of Government.

Current criticism at home and abroad is directed at Istok's perceived strong-arm tactics against opposition to his equally bullish economic reforms, which look set to establish state-controlled monopolies in many key sectors. The President stands accused of trying to dismantle multi-party democracy and the market economy that took years to establish in long-backwards Bulgia.

Inner-thread links

Geography (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12733382&postcount=2)

Economy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12746154&postcount=3)

Defence (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12749448&postcount=4)

Government (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12751681&postcount=5)

Geography

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and The Armed Republic of Carloginias

Area

337,389 square kilometres

Border countries

Carloginias: 3253.5 kilometres

Coastline

621 kilometres

Climate

Moderate winters in coastal areas, cold in interior; moderate to cool and wet summers

Terrain

Lowland with fertile soil in the coastal districts and marshland throughout the interior; thousands of lakes

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Baltic Sea
Highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara, 346 m

Natural resources

Small quantities of oil (including shale) and natural gas, timber, peat, arable land, hydropower potential, amber, dolomite, limestone, granite, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

Irrigated land

1,600 square kilometres
Note- Bulgia is often too wet rather than arid; tens of kilometres of arable land are drained for every one that is irrigated

Economy

Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing Power Parity)

US$169.85 (2006 estimate)

GDP Per Capita (PPP)

US$10,915 (2006 estimate)

GDP real growth rate

8.5% (2006 estimate)

GDP composition by sector

Industry: 32.5%
Agriculture: 7.5%
Services: 60%

Labour force

7.053 million

Labour force by occupation

Industry: 38%
Agriculture: 14%
Services: 58%

Unemployment rate

2.7%
Note- Official rate, widespread under-employment exists

Population below poverty line

18%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.2%

Agriculture products

grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; pork, beef, milk, eggs; fish

Industries

shipbuilding (small ships); tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, buses, vans, street and railroad cars; metal-cutting machine tools, agricultural machinery, electric motors; computers, televisions, radios, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, electronic components, optical equipment; petroleum refining; pharmaceuticals; chemical fibers; textiles; fertilizer; food processing; furniture making; amber jewelry

Note- largely dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

Industrial production growth rate

12%

Electricity production

51.68 billion kWh

Electricity consumption

46.737 billion kWh

Electricity production by source

Fossil fuels: 77.5%
Hydro: 10%
Nuclear: 12.1%
Other: 0.4%

Oil production

48,000 barrels per day

Oil consumption

268,000 barrels per day

Natural gas production

180 million cubic metres

Natural gas consumption

26.3 billion cubic metres

Exports

$41.2 billion

Export commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles and clothing, wood and wood products, foodstuffs

Export partners

?

Imports

$49.7 billion

Import commodities

mineral products, fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals

Import partners

?

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.16 billion

Debt- external

$39 billion

Currency

Bulgian ruble

Military

Branches

Bulgian Armed Forces: Army, Air Force, Navy, Coastal Artillery, Air Defence Force, Strategic Rocket Force, Security Ministry

Military service age and obligation

19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months; 17 years of age for volunteers

Manpower fit for military service

Males age 18-49: 2,638,688
Females age 18-49: 3,234,808

Manpower reaching military service age annually

Males: 134,028
Females: 129,085

Manpower enrolled (by branch)

Army: 80,000
AF: 18,000
Navy: 15,000
CA: 2,000
ADF: 2,500
SRF: 2,500
SM: 20,000
Total: 140,000

Military expenditures

US$7.62 billion

Military expenditures percent of GDP

4.5%

Expenditure per recruit

US$54,429

Equipment holdings (major equipment by branch)

Army: 2,700 tanks; 3,700 other armoured vehicles
AF: 390 planes; 120 helicopters
Navy: 6 frigates; 4 corvettes; 3 submarines; 4 fast attack missile craft; 3 mine countermeasures craft; 6 transport/minelayers; 1 fleet replenishment ship; 1 survey ship; 2 salvage and rescue ships; 3 training ships

Government

Government type

Republic

Capital

Besk

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch

Chief of State: President Grigore Istok
Head of Government: Prime Minister Costel Nechita
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Elections: President elected by popular vote for six year term; Prime Minister appointed by President

Legislative branch

Bicameral parliament containing Council of the Republic and Chamber of Representatives. Costel Nechita's Bulgian Socailist Workers' Party presently controls both branches

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Added government information and more military details

Hm, what else do I need? Something about diplomacy, here, perhaps.

Hm, what else do I need? Something about diplomacy, here, perhaps.
OCC: Hmm... You may want to tell us your total population?

Hehe, oh, yeah. I kept including that in other sections then editing it out as I built them up into something more focused. I suppose a demographics section will come next (it's around 15.5 million, by the way. I wanted Poland, but I was too late!).

A Diplomatic Statement from the Federation of Alprazoism

Greetings from the Federation of Alprazoism, we wish to extend a warm hand to your European nation. We are interested in exchanging ambassadors to speak about possible trade agreements, and how we can help each other moving up the ladder in today's competitive world. We await your respones.

Amadou Chege,
African Diplomatic Representative

Good, but there are a few things you could add.

1. Your population.

2. Military equipment you use.