t of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

@Guadeloupe:Economy

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.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1993
est.)

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $9,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1990)

Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989)

Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer
goods, construction materials
partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 320,000 kW
production: 650 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane; other products include
tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, goats; not
self-sufficient in food

Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $8.235 billion

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995),
5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
(1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Guadeloupe:Transportation

Railroads:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines

Highways:
t