(Last updated: 4 Aug 2011)

Current business situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to New Caledonia. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Country facts

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Economic climate

New Caledonia has 25 per cent of the world’s nickel reserves. The local economy is driven by the nickel industry (mining and processing), which employs 3,200 workers and generate 90 per cent of total exports. Major projects in the mining sector could impact significantly on the economic development of New Caledonia.

Major projects in the mining sector could impact significantly on the economic development of New Caledonia. Other sectors of importance include tourism (100,000 tourists per year, and 80,000 cruise passengers), tuna fishing, prawn farming, agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing.

Overall, workers are employed in:

• Primary production - Includes: agriculture, aquaculture (prawns, yabbies), fisheries (tuna), predominantly cattle breeding, fruit and vegetable growing, the development of prawn farming (450 hectares), but also smaller productions such as coffee growing or deer farming. All productions are for local consumption, while fresh tuna and prawns are for exports.
• Manufacturing - Local production is growing thanks to local tax incentives, in the food and beverage area in particular (chocolate, pasta, tinned food, snack foods, ice cream and dairy products, bottled water), but also clothing, car batteries etc.
• Building and construction - The number of building contractors reflects the importance of this sector, both for residential housing but also hotel projects. This sector is experiencing rapid growth due to the population growth and demand on housing.
• Trade and retail - The sector witnesses increased competition between the multitude of retailers, corner shops and the large hypermarkets/chains of supermarkets (predominantly Carrefour, Casino and Champion).
• Services, banks, transport, hotels, public services - Major banks, but also consulting and auditing firms have a representation in New Caledonia.

For the latest key economic indicators and statistics, please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet.

Political climate

Following the signature of the Noumea Accord, New Caledonia is undergoing a progressive transfer of authority and responsibility from the French Government to the newly formed New Caledonian Government and provinces.

New Caledonia is a territorial 'collectivity' with specific status endowed with wide autonomy. This transfer should lead to a vote on accession to full sovereignty between 2014 and 2018.

New Caledonia’s institutions comprise of the following:

• an elected assembly in each of the three provinces (northern, southern and island provinces)
• congress (54 members from the provincial assemblies)
• government (11 members, elected by the congress)
• economic and social council
• the customary senate and councils

The three provinces and 33 municipalities (Town Halls) freely administrate themselves in assemblies elected by direct universal suffrage. Each of the 12 members of government, lead and control a given sector of the administration.

The following sectors are administrated by the New Caledonian authorities:

• taxation
• work legislation
• economic development
• environment
• health
• primary education
• mining
• infrastructure
• foreign trade relations

The areas of responsibility of the French state are:

• defence
• justice
• external affairs
• currency
• law and order
• enforcement of laws
• secondary education

Trade relations and statistics

Please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet for key trade statistics.