stars (representing the three islands) and a scrollat the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
@Cayman Islands, Economy
Overview:
The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of foreign
currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist
industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors
from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods
needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
standards of living in the region.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $670 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
$23,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$141.5 million
expenditures:
$160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
$2.6 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners:
mostly US
Imports:
$262.2 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners:
US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt:
$15 million (1986)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
74,000 kW
production:
256 million kWh
consumption per capita:
8,780 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building
materials, furniture making
Agriculture:
minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Illicit drugs:
a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits;
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–89), $26.7 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $35
million
Currency:
1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Cayman Islands, Communications
Highways:
total:
160 km (main roads)
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine:
30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 368,037 GRT/581,060 DWT, bulk 9,
cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 3, passenger-cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
note:
a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440–3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220–2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access
international services; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
@Cayman Islands, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Central African Republic,
