hibis Islands and Lagoons French Pacific

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    New Caledonia.                                        Polynesia (underneath)

1/ New Caledonia Agriculture (food crops: manioc, cereals, yam, taro, sweet potato; and cultures of plantation: coconuts, coffee, bananas) and the breeding (bovine, caprine and porcine) occupy approximately 28 % of the credits, but provide respectively hardly 5 % and 2 % of the GNP. The richness of the island yields above all on the nickel, of which it holds 30 % of the world reserves (2nd world producer): 58 % of the ore are transformed into ferronickel and matte of nickel. Mines with Thio and Pin Pin with refining with Doniambo, Nouméa and Yaté. The Large Earth also conceals cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese and gold. In spite of this rich potential, New Caledonia, with an annual GDP per capita of 88 772 F [ estimate 1999 ], depends on the metropolis, for which half of exports is intended. Nouméa has an airport, as well as the Lifou island. Tourism is expanding (91 121 visitors in 1996, is a progression of 5,6 % compared to the previous year). One counts 5 762 km of roads, of which 52 % are asphalted. © 2001 Multi-media/Hachette

Note 2001: for three years, the number of tourists has declined regularly: insufficiency of the air links and also cost of living. The problems of the company of aviation AOM and the destruction of the twin towers (twins) in New York of September 11 worsened considerably this situation.

Fisheries settled in Koumac since 2001 and tuna is now exported, in particular in direction of Europe and Japan ; the aquiculture of shrimp is also practised in northern area; its production is exported towards the same markets.

A project of iron-foundry is in gestation in Northern area (information 2003). 

Another problem of Calédonie, which is that of French overseas territories in general (Polynesia too), comes from the cost of living which is generated by the level of the wages of the civil servants, double of that of metropolis (to encourage them to come according to needs). There exists of this fact a serious disparity with the wages of the private one. The SMIC would be quite less than in metropolis ! (GEO). How to live with the equivalent of 2300 FF, even by living Rivière Salted in I do not know which condition? High costs put a break on tourism.; isn't it said that the international airport itself, is one of most expensive ? Note : the minimum salary (SMG) is 100.000 CFP (838 euros, 2003 rate).

Note 2003 : the smic (minimum salary) is now 100,000 CFP, (838 euros). GEO divides by two for the reason of the high level of living ; the equivalent is finally 419 euros for local people, but it could be exaggerated, because this rate is not sure at all, taxes are lower, heating absent, outfit reduced minimal, nothing to spend the money, (no vacation, no to much temptation..).

The Information bureau says that the prices are nearly those of Paris ; I suppose the reality is between. see "prices"

Polynesia

 

The cessation of nuclear testing at Mururoa has resulted in a significant loss of income, partially covered by an allocation of 18 billions CFP ('euros 150 millions) until  2006. Development assistance:  euros 230 millions.

There are many problems which last in Polynesia; If the most significant must be the water supply, the second is the electric power supply. Rain is frequent when the mountains are rather high, the phenomenon being reinforced if the island is very large. In the very small islands and especially the islands known as low, which exceed only few meters the level of the ocean, the absence of water is crucial. it is the case in atolls of the archipelago of Touamotou, where in the past people were satisfied sometimes with a brackish bas water for drinking ;  the situation improved all the same since, but the problem is latent; you do not expect to take a good shower with 40 liters of water as in our countries of great wasting of the resources of nature;

Of course, I speak about the everyday life and not about the hotels 5 stars, although, in these countries, there can be the same deficiencies as in Africa, Egypt or another regions.

Polynesians coming from Huahiné in 2003, said to me that the problem over there is water. Out this island is not too small and  has heights. Apart from water, there is the problem of electricity supply; I was told about interruptions of pwer in Moorea, however very equipped and attended ! But if you are "stung with a tiare" as a colleague said, wich means hook up by polynesian country, you would not plan to go back, even in hot countries.

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