In the early 2000s, economists and statisticians from the institutions that are part of the CEROM project realized that important and high-quality statistical information on Overseas Territories existed, but that it was relatively unknown and under-exploited.

The first priority of the partnership has been to produce rapid economic accounts. The economic accounts of year n are now available in the second half of year n+1, while, before, they were only available in year n+3. Having this information earlier facilitates the analysis and economic management of the territories concerned. 

The CEROM partnership aims to improve the economic information and macroeconomic analysis capacity of the French Overseas Territories, notably through:

• The construction of economic models adapted to these territories, allowing the production of rapid accounts on the basis of existing economic accounting;
• The development of cyclical indicators giving a quick overview of economic developments;
• The promotion of economic analysis of overseas collectivities and territories, by exploiting untapped data and in order to make this analysis accessible to the greatest number (production of macroeconomic balance sheets, short-term or thematic studies);
• The construction of a peers network to exchange good practices and compare methods;
• Strengthening the quality of the economic information system by bringing together statisticians, economists and users of economic data.

This partnership has also made it possible to measure for the first time the GDP of certain overseas collectivities and to produce a fine analysis of the corporate fabrics of several territories.

The CEROM partnership derives from a framework agreement renewed since 2005 between the partner institutions. This agreement sets out the objectives and modalities for implementing the partnership.

The partnership is managed by partner institutions at headquarters level, and is represented locally through their offices in seven overseas territories: the five overseas departments, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. The partnership also covers other overseas communities: Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy.

The scope of the CEROM partnership is the production of economic information and databases enabling the monitoring of overseas economies, analysis and perspective of existing macroeconomic information.

Partner institutions produce economic statistics and analyses to inform public policies. The evaluation of public policies or projects, the development of programmes and development strategies have so far been beyond the scope of CEROM’s work.

Partner institutions of CEROM work together on:

• The production and publication of economic studies (macroeconomic reports, sectoral studies, etc.);
• The construction of rapid economic accounts;
• The development of cyclical dashboards.

Publications from the partnership can be found on the CEROM website (in French).

In addition, every two to three years, AFD organizes with its partners a conference devoted to socio-economic or environmental issues in Oversees France. The seventh edition of these conferences was held on October 13, 2022, and dedicated to the following theme: Overseas Territories in transitions, challenges and visions of the future.

Confirming the initial diagnosis that motivated its launch, the CEROM partnership shows that important statistical socio-economic information exists in the Overseas Territories, but that it was and still remains insufficiently mobilized, especially in academic circles. The use of available statistical data sources has enabled many studies to be produced over the last twenty years. However, this work presupposes taking into account the specificities and sometimes the limits of the different data sources, whether they come from INSEE, the departmental statistical services or the monetary issuing institutes. 

Contacts: 

• Bertrand Savoye, research officer, AFD
• Stéphanie Margot, Head of the Strategy and Transversal Support Unit, Three Oceans Department, AFD

AFD has been present in Cambodia since 1993 and supports the country by focusing on two key structural areas: promoting balanced territorial development (access to basic services, water resource management, adaptation to climate change, etc.) on the one hand and supporting the productive sector while respecting environmental and social standards (renewable energies, technical and professional training) on the other.

Produced by AFD's team of country-risk economists, macroeconomic country assessments provide an analysis of development processes in countries in which AFD operates. They also characterize their growth trajectory, and detect economic, social, political and financial vulnerabilities associated with these trajectories. AFD Group is thus in a position to properly measure the challenges and monitor the risks associated with each of its investments.

Emphasis is placed on developing countries, particularly in Africa, for which macroeconomic analyses are rare or infrequent. AFD seeks to complement existing production on the global economic situation, more focused on advanced economies and major emerging countries.

Find out more: Macroeconomic Analyses at AFD

Country-risk analysis is based on a close follow-up over a long period of time and rooted in a fine knowledge of local contexts. Cyclical trends, often highlighted in the news, are always examined in the light of structural trends and of the regional context in which they take place. The aim is to highlight country-specific macroeconomic issues while assessing risks against comparable time- and space-based trajectories.

Country-risk economists place the study of socio-political vulnerabilities, the growth model, the viability of public debt, external balances and the soundness of the financial system at the heart of their assessment, and give specific attention to countries' exposure to climate risks.

For two decades, Cambodia has been experiencing a gradual transformation enabling it to achieve significant economic and social progress and become a lower-middle-income country (LMIC). However, the various exogenous shocks since 2020 have underscored the fragile nature of the progress achieved and highlighted the challenges the country still needs to address to improve its socioeconomic environment, accelerate its economic growth and make it more inclusive, so that it can definitively leave the category of least developed countries.

Our publications on Cambodia's macroeconomic situation: 

• "Cambodia: Significant progress towards sustainable economic growth", in MacroDev Semestrial Panorama n°44, July 2023

Contact: 

• Laura Marie, country-risk economist at AFD