Bankoh study
forecasts growth in
French Polynesia

Star-Bulletin staff

The economy of French Polynesia, consisting of the French territories of Tahiti and New Caledonia, is expected to grow 2 percent to 4 percent a year through the next seven years, according to a new report by Bank of Hawaii.

The report, by the bank's regional economist Wali Osman, said in 1996-98 real growth in the territories' gross domestic product averaged 2.9 percent.

Tourist arrivals are heading upward, rising 4.7 percent last year, as increasing travel from North America made up for a slowdown from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The full report can be seen on the bank's Web site, www.boh.com.

The bank has had operations in French Polynesia for some years and other Hawaii companies also do business there in areas such as resort development.