Doing business & staying in touch while in Guadeloupe

Flying From:

Going To:

Departure Date:

Return Date:

Rooms:

Room 1:

Flying From:

Flying To:

Departure Date:

Return Date:

Adults:

Children: [?]

Infants: [?]

Hotel City:

Arrival:

Rooms:

Nights:

Room 1:

Doing business in Guadeloupe

It can get very hot and humid in Guadeloupe so lightweight suits are recommended for business meetings. Much of Guadeloupe’s business is connected to France and customs tend to be similar, albeit more relaxed, than in France.

Office hours:

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800 and most businesses close on Sunday.

Economy:

Guadeloupe's economy revolves around agriculture, light industry and tourism. Bananas and sugar are the main exports, accounting for approximately one-third of total foreign earnings. Coffee, cocoa and vanilla are the other main cash crops. In recent years the export of bananas has been threatened by regional competition and the phasing out of preferential European quotas.

Tourism, especially ecotourism, is also becoming increasingly important. There is a growing number of cruise ship visitors. The islands have been suffering because of the economic downturn, which has kept tourists away. Unemployment hit 23% in 2012 (compared with 10.2% in France) and Guadeloupe's economy is kept afloat by public salaries and credits from Paris.

France supplies most of the island's imports and takes three-quarters of its exports. In February 2009, France announced a $730 million financial aid package to be shared between all of its Overseas Territories.

GDP:

US$9.7 billion (2006 estimate).

Main exports:

Bananas, sugarcane, rum and vanilla.

Main imports:

Food, fuel, vehicles, consumer goods and construction materials.

Main trading partners:

France, Germany, USA, Japan and Netherlands Antilles.

Keeping in Touch in Guadeloupe

Telephone:

Good internal network. There are no area codes. Phonecards (télécartes) are necessary to make calls from public telephones.

Mobile phone:

Mobile phones work in most areas on the island and there is good coverage. Analogue networks are compatible with most US handsets, which can be activated on the island by dialling 0 or by registering online.

Internet:

Available in Internet cafes at Saint-Francois, Sainte Anne, Mare-Gaillard and Pointe-à-Pitre; there are also terminals in some larger post offices and public buildings.

Post:

Airmail takes about one week to reach Europe. Postal rates are the same as metropolitan France.

Press:

• Newspapers are all in French.
• The main daily is France-Antilles.
• Le Progrés Social is a popular weekly.

Television:

• RFO is the main broadcasting company in Guadeloupe and is a public service.
• Other TV stations are Canal10, La Una Guadeloupe and Télê Guadeloupe.

Radio:

• Radio Caraibes International is the local radio station and is privately operated, as is NRJ Antilles.
• RFO Guadeloupe, a public broadcaster, also operates.

Latest features

Guadeloupe: Doing business & staying in touch

Doing business in Guadeloupe

Keeping in Touch in Guadeloupe