世界各国

French Guiana

Introduction to French Guiana

First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

Government

Capital:

Cayenne

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Economy

Economy overview:

The economy is tied closely to the larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

GDP:

purchasing power parity -$551 billion (2003 est.)

Agriculture products:

corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries:

construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining

Transportation

Highways:

total: 722 km

Waterways:

3,760 km
note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni

Airports:

11 (2003 est.)