Seychelles Military, Economy and Transportation

Economy

Economy overview: Since 1976, GDP per capita in this Indian Ocean archipelago has increased almost sevenfold. The main driver of growth was the tourism sector, which employs about 30% of the workforce and provides 70% of hard currency income, as well as the tuna fishery. In recent years, the government has been attracting foreign investment to develop the hotel business and other services. At the same time, the government is trying to de-dependence on the tourism sector by encouraging the development of farming, fishing and small-scale industries. The vulnerability of the tourism sector was especially pronounced in 1991-92, when the flow of tourists subsided sharply – mainly due to the Gulf War. Although tourism has flourished again, the government understands the need to improve this sector due to growing international competition. Other goals of the government are to reduce the budget deficit and privatize state-owned enterprises. Growth rates in 1998-2000 decreased due to stagnation in the tourism and fishing sectors. Tight exchange rate controls and a lack of foreign exchange earnings cast doubt on the immediate economic outlook. The value of the Seychellois rupee is half the official exchange rate. Barring a devaluation of the currency, the tourism sector will remain weak as tourists can find cheaper holiday destinations in the Comoros, Mauritius and Madagascar. See topb2bwebsites.com to know more about Seychelles in 2004.
GDP: at purchasing power parity – $610 million (2000 est.).
Real GDP growth rate: 1.5% (2000 est.).
GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $7,700 (2000 est.).
The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 3.1%; industry: 26.3%; service sector: 70.6% (1999).
Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available.
Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data.
Consumer Price Inflation Rate:
Labor Force: 30,900 (1996).
Employment structure: industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989).
Unemployment rate: no data.
Budget: revenues: $249 million; expenditures: $262 million, including capital investment – NA (1998 est.).
Spheres of economy: fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, production of coir (rope from coconut fibers), construction of small boats, printing, furniture industry; beverage production.
Growth in industrial production: no data available.
Electricity generation: 160 million kWh (1999).
Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999).
Electricity consumption: 148.8 million kWh (1999).
Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999).
Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999).
Agricultural products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna.
Export: $111 million (free on board, 1999)
Export items: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-export).
Export partners: France, UK, Netherlands, Italy, China, Germany, Japan.
Import: $440 million (S.I.F., 1999).
Import articles: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, oil products, chemicals.
Import partners: South Africa, Great Britain, China, Singapore, France, Italy.
External debt: $240 million (1999 est.) Economic aid recipient: $16.4 million (1995)
Economic aid donor:
Currency: Seychellois rupee.
Currency code: SCR.
Exchange rate: SCR/USD – 6.0397 (November 2000), 5.6009 (2000), 5.3426 (1999), 5.2622 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996).
Fiscal year: calendar year.

Telecommunications

Telecommunications Telephone lines: 19 635 (1997).
Mobile cellular telephones: 19,316 (1999).
Telephone system: efficient; internal: radiotelephone communication between the islands of the archipelago; international: direct radiotelephone communication with nearby island countries and countries of the African coast; satellite ground stations – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean).
Broadcast stations: AM – 1, FM – 2, shortwave -2 (1998).
Radio receivers: 42,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 2 (and 9 repeaters) (1997).
TVs: 11,000 (1997).
Internet country code: sc
Internet providers: 1 (2000).
Number of users: 5,000 (2000).

Transport

Transport Railways: 0 km.
Roads: total length: 373 km; coated: 315 km; unpaved: 58 km (1997)
Ports and harbours: Victoria.
Merchant fleet: total: 1 ship (displacement 1,000 tons or more) with a total displacement of 5,353 gross register tons / 7,638 long tons of gross tonnage; ships of different types: cargo ships -1 (2000 est.).
Airports: 14 (2000 est.).
Airports with paved runways: total: 6; from 1524 to 2437 m:1; from 914 to 1523 m:3; less than 914 m: 2 (2000 est.).
Airports with unpaved runways: total: 8; from 914 to 1523 m: 4; less than 914 m: 4 (2000 est.).

Armed forces

Branches of the armed forces: army, coast guard, air unit, national guard, presidential guard unit, police.
Total military manpower: male 15 to 49: 22,951 (2001 est.).
Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 11,452 (2001 est.).
Number of persons reaching military age each year:
Military spending in dollar terms: $13 million (1993).
Military spending as part of GDP: 2.8% (1993).