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New Caledonia

New Caledonia profile

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(Last updated: 8 May 2009)


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.

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Country facts

Capital city: Noumea
Surface area: 18,600 sq km
Population: 240,390
Official language(s): French
Head of State: President HE Mr Nicolas Sarkozy
Head of Government: President Mr Harold Martin
Australian exports to New Caledonia: A$359 million
Australian imports from New Caledonia: A$85 million
New Caledonia's principal export destinations: Japan, France, China
New Caledonia's principal import sources: France, Singapore, Australia
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

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Economic climate

New Caledonia enjoys political stability, and a flourishing economy, thanks to the nickel mining and processing industry. There are strong tax incentives to develop export oriented activities, such as tuna fishing, prawn farming, deer farming, to develop hotel resorts and tourism. The local manufacturing sector is already well structured, and investment is welcomed to further enhance this sector.


Major investments are expected to take place in mining and metallurgical operations over the next few years, with two world scale nickel producers finalising cost assessments to build processing plants in the north and south of the mainland, with total capital cost investment valued in excess of US$3.4 billion dollars.


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.


Key economic indicators and statistics for 2007*:

  • GDP - US$7.4 billion
  • GDP per capita - US$30,638
  • Inflation - 1.8 per cent

*Latest statistics


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

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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 (44 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 freely administrate themselves in assemblies elected by direct universal suffrage. Each of the 11 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
  • infrastructures
  • 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
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Trade relations and statistics

Major Australian exports to New Caledonia (2007-08):
  • Civil engineering equipment and parts - A$26 million
  • Coal - A$22 million
  • Prefabricated buildings - A$18 million
  • Wheat - A$11 million

Major Australian imports to New Caledonia (2007-08):

  • Iron ore - A$79 million
  • Crustaceans - A$1 million
  • Non-ferrous waste and scrap - A$1 million
  • Civil engineering equipment - A$1 million
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

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OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

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