Economy (Guadeloupe)
====================


     Overview:
         The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services.
         It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is
         a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly
         large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important
         sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas
         (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers.
         Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption,
         although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly
         from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production.
         Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially
         high among the young.
     GDP:
         exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate
         NA% (1987)
     Inflation rate (consumer prices):
         2.3% (1988)
     Unemployment rate:
         38% (1987)
     Budget:
         revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including capital
         expenditures of NA (1989)
     Exports:
         $153 million (f.o.b., 1988)
       commodities:
         bananas, sugar, rum
       partners:
         France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)
     Imports:
         $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
       commodities:
         vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction
         materials, petroleum products
       partners:
         France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)
     External debt:
         $NA
     Industrial production:
         growth rate NA%
     Electricity:
         171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,279 kWh per capita (1991)
     Industries:
         construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
     Agriculture:
         cash crops - bananas and sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits
         and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, and goats; not self-sufficient in
         food
     Economic aid:
         US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US)
         countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
     Currency:
         French franc (plural - francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
     Exchange rates:
         French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.6397 (March 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
         (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)
     Fiscal year:
         calendar year