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- Economy
-
- Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus
- is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture
- accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor
- force. Principal products include bananas, coconuts, citrus,
- and root crops. In 1988 the economy achieved a 5.6% growth
- in real GDP on the strength of a boost in construction,
- higher agricultural production, and growth of the small
- manufacturing sector based on soap and garment industries.
- The tourist industry remains undeveloped because of a rugged
- coastline and the lack of an international-class airport.
-
- GDP: $137 million, per capita $1,408; real growth rate 5.6%
- (1988 est.).
-
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.9% (1987).
-
- Unemployment rate: 10% (1989 est.).
-
- Budget: revenues $60 million; expenditures $52 million,
- including capital expenditures of $18 million (FY88).
-
- Exports: $46 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--bananas,
- coconuts, grapefruit, soap, galvanized sheets; partners--
- UK 72%, Jamaica 10%, OECS 6%, US 3%, other 9%.
-
- Imports: $66.0 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--food,
- oils and fats, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, manufactured
- goods, machinery and equipment; partners--US 23%, UK 18%,
- CARICOM 15%, OECS 15%, Japan 5%, Canada 3%, other 21%.
-
- External debt: $63.6 million (December 1987).
-
- Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% in manufacturing (1987).
-
- Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 16 million kWh produced,
- 190 kWh per capita (1989).
-
- Industries: agricultural processing, tourism, soap and other
- coconut-based products, cigars, pumice mining.
-
- Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops--bananas,
- citrus fruit, coconuts, root crops; bananas provide the
- bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential
- not exploited.
-
- Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
- (1970-87), $109 million.
-
- Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC
- dollar (EC$) = 100 cents.
-
- Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
- (fixed rate since 1976).
-
- Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June.
-