Part 539

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre LESUEUR]; Union for a Martinique of Progress or UMP; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL]; Martinique Communist Party or PCM [George ERICHOT]; Martinique Patriots or PM; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Miguel LAVENTURE]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group or GAP; Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group or GRS; Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste or PMS; Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of France)

Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy - overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.95 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: NA%

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 11% services: 83% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 3.9% (1990)

Labor force: total: 160,000 by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 23.5% (1993)

Budget: revenues: $620 million expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $170 million (1992)

Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - capacity: NA kW

Electricity - production: NA kWh

Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh

Agriculture - products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for rum

Exports: total value: $220 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)

Imports: total value : $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)

Debt - external: $180 million (1994)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual French aid

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)