Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
InOC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag designed to emphasize solidarity among the
people of Reunion; the field is divided vertically with three narrow
stripes of blue, white, and red along the hoist edge representing
the French national flag; the remainder of the field is divided
diagonally into four triangles colored (clockwise from the hoist
side) blue, golden yellow, red, and green; in the center, the apexes
of the triangles are surmounted by a white disk; the only official
flag is the national flag of France
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:
The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, but
services now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more
than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.
The government has been pushing the development of a tourist
industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third of
the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the
poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social
tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better
off than other segments of the population, often approaching
European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and
unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.
The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrated the
seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
France.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.79 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2005 est.)