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Païlin : An Area of Cambodia Undergoing Change The region of Païlin, today in Cambodian territory, achieved prominent importance toward the end of the last century when large deposits of precious and semi-precious stones were discovered. After a difficult period which lasted from the First World War to the late 1950's, it is now experiencing a vigorous recovery, as the rapid growth of its population testifies. A mining region, it derives the major portion of its present prosperity from the extraction of gems, but the increasing wealth of its proprietor class has resulted in the fact that, since several years now, a great effort has been made to engage in fruit growing. Today, the region is an important producer of fruit, which it sells in the markets of the nearest towns and cities.

Summary. — Population problems and economic prospects in Martinique and Guadeloupe. — The population census conducted in Martinique and Guadeloupe in 1967 shows a slowing of demographic growth, the cause of which must be sought more in the continuing emigrations to France, than in the initial effects of voluntary birth control. In spite of the strong financial support that these departments enjoy, the economic situation reveals disturbing signs of degeneration : a crisis in the sugar industry ; abandonment of rural jobs without adequately compensating work in industrialized fields ; artificial expansion of the tertiary sector ; hypertrophie and imbalance of the main urban centers. The possibilities of developing tourism further are encouraging, but by itself tourism does not seem capable of resolving the serious problems of under-employment and under-production.

Economic development of Gabon Although covering an area of 267,000 sq. kms, Gabon has a population of no more than 500,000 people ; still, it is considered as the pilot state of Equatorial Africa. Its economy is experiencing rapid growth due to exploitation of its forests (covering 85 % of the area of the country) and its mineral resources (petroleum, uranium, manganese), which are, moreover, far from being fully tapped. Nevertheless, the growth of the exploitation of natural resources has not profited much the processing industries (2 % of the G.N.P.), the artisan class, nor agriculture which remain in their traditional states and where the major portion of Gabon's population is employed. State employees and those working for the forest and mining companies have salaries that are far higher than the income of farmers. The population grows slowly (5 0/00 per year), sanitary conditions remain poor. The under-population handicaps economic growth. The first Five Year Plan (1966-1971) is intended to develop communication means so as to aid greater expansion of the forest and mining sectors and assist in modernizing agriculture. Local conditions are favorable for installing large industrial plants capable of processing raw materials into semi-finished products. The current prosperity of Gabon (the commercial payments balance is comfortably in the surplus column) draws attention to the fact that the nation is greatly dependant upon export markets.