1984 Edition

Agriculture

islands depend largely on coconut production and export of copra; cinnamon, vanilla, and patchouli (used for perfumes) are other cash crops; food crops — small quantities of sweet potatoes, cassava, sugarcane, and bananas; islands not selfsufficient in foodstuffs and the bulk of the supply must be imported; fish is an important food source

Aid

economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (197881), $127 million; US(FY78-82), $3.6 million

Airfields

7 total, 7 usable; 1 with permanentsurface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Branches

President, Council of Ministers, People's Assembly

Army, Navy, Air Force . Military manpower: males 15-49, 16,000; 8,000 fit for military service

Budget

(1981) revenue $57 million, current expenditure $45 million, development expenditure $26 million

Capital

Victoria, Mahe Island

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

Communists

negligible, although some Cabinet ministers espouse proSoviet line

Elections

general election held June 1979 gave 98% approval to Rene as only presidential candidate on yes/no ballot; next election probably 1984 Political parties and leaders: Rene, who heads the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, came to power by a military coup in June 1977; until then he had been Prime Minister in an uneasy coalition with then President James Mancham, who headed the Seychelles Democratic Party; Rene banned the Seychelles Democratic Party in midMarch 1978 and announced a new constitution in March 1979 that turned the country into a one-party state

Electric power

45,000 kW capacity (1983); 160 million kWh produced (1983), 2,460 kWh per capita

Exports

$15.3 million (f.o.b., 1982); cinnamon (bark and oil) and vanilla account for almost 50% of the total, copra accounts for about 40%, the remainder consists of patchouli, fish, and guano

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

$128 million (1982 est); $1,330 per capita; negative real growth rate in 1981-82

Government leader

France Albert RENE, President

Highways

215 km total; 145 km bituminous, 70 km crushed stone or earth

Imports

$97.9 million (c.i.f., 1982); food, tobacco, and beverages account for about 40% of imports, manufactured goods about 25%, the remainder consists of machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, textiles

Legal system

based on English common law, French civil law system, and customary law

Major industries

tourism is largest industry; processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, small-scale manufacture of consumer goods, coir rope factory, tea factory

Major trade partners

exports — UK, South Africa, Japan

Member of

Af DB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO Economy

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1982, $8.3 million; 12.6% of central government budget

Monetary conversion rate

6.82 Seychelles rupees=US$l (31 October 1983)

National holiday

5 June and 29 June

Official name

Republic of Seychelles

Other political or pressure groups

trade

Ports

1 small port (Victoria)

Railroads

none

Suffrage

universal adult

Supply

infantry-type weapons and ammunition from Tanzania, USSR, and China

Telecommunications

direct radiocommunications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 7,100 telephones (11.1 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, no FM, and 1 TV stations; Indian Ocean satellite station; USAF tracking station Defense Forces

Type

republic; member of the Commonwealth