|Area:||455 sq km (176 sq mi)|
|Population||(1999 est.): 80,000|
|Head of state and government:||President France-Albert René|
In April 1999 the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation, a group that promoted regional trade, admitted Seychelles. Membership followed the government’s stated goal of making the country a major centre for offshore financial services. By late 1999 more than 3,000 companies had registered as offshore businesses under the auspices of the Seychelles International Business Authority.
Former central bank governor and Finance Ministry official Guy Morel announced in April the creation of a new political party, the Social Democratic Party. Morel broke away from the ruling Seychelles People’s Progressive Front because of what he called the government’s failed economic policies. His action came just before the Organization of African Unity suspended the country’s voting privileges for failure to pay its dues. A July report by the African Development Bank criticized the government for a growing budget deficit. Despite its already significant debt, the government announced plans to build a cruise ship harbour at an estimated cost of $100 million.
Elevated water temperatures continued to damage coral reefs around Seychelles. One study found that 80% of the reefs had been killed or badly damaged. Decay of the barrier reefs raised fears of erosion.