About St Lucia

St. Lucia, often called "The Helen of the West", is located in the Eastern Caribbean. The country is 238 sq. miles with a total population of 160,000, speaking English and a French-based patois. St. Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), an organization, which seeks to assist developing countries on the path to economic success through regional co-operation.

Whether traveling by air or by sea, St. Lucia offers excellent accommodations for its visitors and the natural beauty of the island, covered with splendid peaks and vast forest terrain are certainly added attractions.

The local currency in St.Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollars (EC), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$ 1.00 to EC$ 2.70.

The following is the most recent data available in respect of economic activity on the island :

2003

Per capita GDP US$ 5400
Domestic Inflation Rate 2 %
GPD (real growth) 1.50 %

MAIN ECONOMIC SECTORS AS A % OF GDP

Tourism 13%
Agriculture 11%
Manufacturing 8%
Construction 9%
Other * 59%

* (includes distributive trade, banking and insurance, Utilities Transport, other services).

MAIN EXPORTS

* Bananas
* Paper, paperboard Products
* Electronic/ Electrical Products
* Processed Foods

MAIN TRADING PARTNERS

EXPORT: UK, Europe, USA, Caricom
IMPORTS: USA, Caricom, UK, Japan, Europe, Canada

St. Lucia's international financial services industry has sprung up as a result of its need to diversify its economic base and is ripe for expansion and real growth. Its political and economic stability, has attracted many investors over the years and it will continue to do so simply on the ground of " good business sense" and a solid unspoilt reputation.