_*Economy #_Overview: In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides the main source of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.
_#_GDP: $283 million, per capita $4,100; real growth rate 7.0% (1989)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1989)
_#_Unemployment rate: 9% (1987)
_#_Budget: revenues $170 million; expenditures $173 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
_#_Exports: $31 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
commodities—fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports);
partners—France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)
_#_Imports: $164 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
commodities—manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products;