Iere

 Iëre (Land of the Hummingbird), also known as the Hummingbird Isles is a Parliamentary Republic located on a chain of island off the coast of (sector 315). Home to a population of just 2.8 million is among the world's smallest states by population. The nation has had a long history of colonization and immigration that has led to it being a very culturally diverse nation and some dare say it it is the most Cosmopolitan country in the world. The Nation has obtain independence in the XXXX from the colonial government of Somkartvelia. Since its independence the nation has managed remain neutral, and has not been involved in any international affairs and organizations. Following a doctrine of Pacifism and Neutrality the Nation posses no Military but instead maintains a small SDF force responsible for protecting the Sovereignty of the nation from outside forces.

Despite the economy seeming to be doing well 7.5% of the population is unemployed, Crime is devastating some communities, rising wealth inequality has led to 18% of the population living below the poverty line and economic growth is minimal and unstable.

Politics
Till the recent election the two main parties were the United Congress (UC) and the People's Union Prosperity(PUP) support for these parties appears to fall along ethnic lines, with the UC consistently obtaining a majority of one Ethnic Group's vote, and the PUP gaining a majority of the other major Ethnic Groups's vote. The country previously possessing a first past the pole system was in a constant gridlock as the two parties played along racial lines to win seats all this was to come to a end when the Coalition for Change (CC) a united Coalition of many important small parties united to challenge the two ruling parties control of the government. By relying on the vote on many young voters and the third part voter the coalition won a sweeping 65% of the 120 seats up for grabs winning more than enough to pass laws and change the constitution. On January the 17th of XXXX the parties first term in government a referendum was held to get the people's opinion on whether the electoral system should be changed to a proportional representation system with a sweeping 70% of those who participated voting in favor the following week the government peacefully transitioned to the proportional representation system.

Demographics
The ethnic composition of Iere reflects a history of conquest and immigration. While the earliest inhabitants were of Native heritage, the two dominant groups in the country are now those of Kesh and of Artemia heritage.

Ethnicity
Samotians and Seratofians make up the country's largest ethnic groups 26% and 25% respectively they are primarily the descendants of the first colonists to settle in Iere, arriving in Iere to start a new life for themselves.

Tillishians make up the country's third largest ethnic group, with 16% of Iere population they are the resolt of refugees fleeing from genocide in the continent Iere being the only part of the (Empire) willing to be a safe haven seeing that Iere is a great distance from the rest of the (Empire) it has managed not to be greatly influenced by the dangerous ideologies that affected the homelands and develop a uniquely Ierian mentality.

Lusjkians are Iere's fourth largest Ethnic group at 13% of the population most have found their way to Iere during the economic golden age of Iere fleeing extreme poverty and hardships in their homeland to date many of Iere's immigrants are of Lusjki stock seeing that the country still united with Iere in the commonwealth is still economically deprived.

7% of the population are those who identify as being of mixed heritage the result of Iere's complex ethnic/racial makeup and many inter-ethnic relationships. 1% of the population is all that remains of the natives. The remainder of Iere's are  small but significant minorities of people of Hyberian Descent and the Far corners of Artmia and Kesh with the Badezali from Hyberia being Iere's fifth or to some sixth largest Ethnic group

Demographic Transition
The country is in stage 4 of the Demographics Transition model but many believe the Iere is expected to be within this stage for a long time to come due to immigration and the county's above replacement level fertility rate. Iere is not expected to see any decline in population for years to come with many predicting that Iere population may reach 10 million at the least before beginning a steady decline. Iere's Population pyramid illustrates a interesting story about the nation's immigration and the events history has had on it.

Economy
Iere’s economy ranking high in the top developing countries is greatly influenced by the Petroleum and Tourism industry. Agriculture and Manufacturing are also important to the local economy. Although one would assume the Petroleum Industry would contribute the largest share of GDP this is not the truth as with falling oil and natural gas prices the Industry has seen better days. Recently the New Government has made moves to legislate the legalization of marijuana and all natural psychedelic drugs and invest in the industries that can benefit from this endeavor. The Government has also oriented itself to better capitalize on Iere's abundant human and natural resources. The Ierian economy isn’t dominated by any one major city/urban area instead three different economic hubs are prominent in the Country the Capital city of Buel in the west where most financial institutions and the HQ of international businesses that have branches in Iere are located, The Provincial capital of Andor in the south the tourism hub of the nation and Zair in the northwest the industrial hub. The Real Estate Market has been performing relatively well though inflation has led to severe losses however recent developments has led to a revival especially as more people are rejoining the workforce. Buel and Andor have seen the fastest growth in the real estate market. With Buel being where many foreigners are choosing to have their holiday homes and luxury hotels and apartments have grown in number due to the thriving tourist industry. Exports of goods amount to 8 billion dollars while Import of goods amount to 8.21 billion dollars. Export of services amount to 7.8 billion dollars while import of services amount to 7.3 billion dollars. The Ierian economy though healthy and has been seeing modest growth has seen an inflation rate that has led to the nations PPP near equal to its Nominal GDP.

Mining
The petroleum sector (LNG and Oil) makes up the biggest portion of Iere’s mining sector accounting for in value 44% of exports refining it not a part of Iere’s petroleum sector instead the sector focuses on exporting oil and LNG as cheaply as possible while insuring the industry remains profitable. The other sectors of Iere’s mining sector continue to remain important though they remain relatively underdeveloped particularly with regards to the development of secondary industries. The jewelry industry continues to be the only significant downstream industry related to the mining sector.

Tourism
The booming Tourism Industry has managed to just barely scrape past the Petroleum Industry's contribution to GDP with stable economically prosperous Supply Countries and falling travelling prices aided by the falling oil and gas prices the Industry is on track to record growth. The Tourism sector is mostly focused on Ecotourism, the classic three S, Health tourism, Cultural tourism, Gambling and Sex Tourism. The Nations boosts vast swathes of virgin land teeming with wildlife. The nation has many sites to behold and its greatest natural treasure is the Heavens reef the world’s largest barrier reef located on the east coast of the largest island.

Manufacturing
The Manufacturing Sector has started to grow at a modest rate aided by a few old government policies and some new ones encouraging the growth of further linkage industries linked to the Petroleum and Tourism Industries as well as encouraging the growth of the already established manufacturing sectors with the Clothing and Toy sectors being areas to see further expansion. Moves to encourage high tech manufacturing have long been started with investments into the next industrial revolution being prioritized.

Agriculture
Agriculture has seen severe decline over the past few decades even though the Industry once guaranteed Iere was self-sufficient in food production, and was once a significant food exporter though no longer in its glory days agricultural export still makeup a significant share of exports. Corruption and government neglect has led to swathes of land that was once under cultivation being returned to nature or in some cases being turned into industrial and residential areas and the country becoming reliant on food imports. Iere still is able to meet 4/5 of its food needs and exports large amounts of seafood, rice, hot peppers, fruits, lumber, high quality chocolate and coffee.

Technology
The Tech sector has been the most recent benefactor of government policies with the most major development being the complete removal on all taxes on technology related companies based in Iere and the the New Iere Science Park a industrial and office complex which finished construction two years ago after two decades in controversy and going way above budget. The Park geared towards the development of what is hoped to be a thriving a technological hub. The New Iere AI park is also home to the state of the art Iron Bird University which finished construction 3 years ago. The university is geared towards providing internationally recognized degrees in the computer sciences, robotics, engineering and video game design. Already the complex has started to show serious promise with many young designers who have enrolled in video game design developing games that are gaining popularity worldwide with the two games of most popular note being Dragons Age of Equestria and Final Crystal. So far only three manufacturing companies have set up shop in the park Stephone Industries a small smart phone and tablet manufacturer, Moria a smart TV manufacturer and Oscocorp a Genetic Engineering company that has set up shop in Iere to capitalize of the Country's virgin land and many undiscovered plant and animal species.





Transport
Iere despite being a country fragmented on a geographical and demographic level has managed to develop a well well connected, sophisticated transport despite its many challenges. Per million Iere's road density is 670 km of which only 60% of paved road are in good condition this is in part due to Iere's large size and most of its population being mostly concentrate in three urban areas which has led to most being service by one of the other key transport sectors and not much focus being placed on developing Iere's road network. There is only depending on who you ask one or two highways in Iere in part the supposed two highways are actually one and it is mostly due to people's perception that it is divided into two. The Imperial Highway as it is officially called runs all the way from Zair to Buel where it finally ends in Oreborough east of Andor.

Railway
Iere despite being a developing nation boast a highly modern rail network befitting of a developed nation. Almost all major Urban Areas are connected by rail with the Zair-Buel-Andor route being serviced by three High Speed Bullet Train. Currently there are plans to expand the route to service more areas though the area the route already services is large and there are plans to add a additional three Bullet trains. Iere's rail network has been and will continue to be a major gear in the ticking Ierian Economy since the start of Iere's colonial history and as such the entire network is run by one state owned company the Hummingbird Express. The Hummingbird Express has managed to remain one of Iere's most trusted, dependable and financially prosperous companies.

Ports
Iere by virtue of being surrounded on all sides by water and by a archipelago divided by water by water has been by necessity developed a functioning maritime transportation sector. There are only four port of significance with the Zair Port being the largest in part due to the city and its surrounding area large industrial sector and the direct access to the open seas 30% of imports come through the port and 60% of exports of export by tonnage. Andor's Port receives 80 % of all cruise ships that visit Iere and surprisingly exports quite a significant share of Iere's agricultural goods in part due to its large catchment area and the City's thriving agroprocessing sector, the port is the third largest in Iere. Buel's and Werdna's ports also play significant roles in Iere's economy with Buel's Port being the second largest in terms of exports and imports by tonnage but the largest in exports of high value. The city of Werdna is not a far distance from Buel but but its port is only able to be relevant in part due to the Hydrocarbon sector which has many stages of the value chain located in the city and its port. The rest of Iere is serviced by smaller ports which essentially only cater for small cargo vessels with most goods first arriving in one of the four large ports where they are then shipped to the rest of Iere in smaller vessels

Ferry
Unlike Iere's railway network Iere's ferry service is primarily dominated by the private sector with some state/provincial ferry service also competing in the sector in part due to the realization that government funded ferry services are necessary for some areas are needed since there is little financial incentives for the private sector to enter those arenas. The Grand Coral Ferry is the largest and most profitable ferry service in Iere the company facilitating a large share of the market for transporting goods and people in three state/provinces these particular states being the most dependent on water travel.

Air
By air Iere is connected to far corners of the world but to a far greater extent the Commonwealth. Iere's largest airport is in Buel due in part to its large market and it centrality. Unity Airport is the de facto hub of Ierian air travel though both Andor and Buel have international airports. Some areas are service by small airports that are mostly linked to one or more of the big three. Iere has two national carriers Heaven's Air and Harmonic Convergence both companies have been doing well recently but the past 10 years haven't been kind as the out of control inflation that has only recently been tamed had led to significant drops in both airlines revenues.