10 Jul 2006

New Caledonia's economy shows good growth

10:28 am on 10 July 2006

A report says New Caledonia's economy grew by four percent last year which is more than double the rate seen in mainland France.

The figure was given by the IEOM, the institution in charge of issuing the territory's money, which describes the terriotory's economy as dynamic.

The AFP news agency quotes the institution as saying nickel exports grew by more than five percent, allowing the territory to cover about 60 percent of its import bill.

The report says transfers from the French state have also grown by more than five percent to more than a billion US dollars last year.

But it also notes that tourism is stagnant, with visitior numbers remaining at 100,000 for 2005.