Saturday, December 12, 2009

IMF sees 4 pct average annual growth in Burundi

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Burundi's annual economic growth should average 4 percent over the next three years, provided the country remains politically stable.

The growth will be underpined by continued reforms in the coffee sector, which is the main foreign exchange earner and employer, more aid-financed investments and the advantages of joining the regional East African Community bloc.

"Provided the security and political situation continues to improve, Burundi's medium-term economic outlook looks positive," the IMF said in a statement.

It also expects growth to moderate at 3.5 percent this year -- above previous estimate of 3.2 percent -- after expansion of 4.5 percent in 2008 that followed a good coffee harvest and donor-funded projects.

The IMF said to avoid squeezing domestic funding for priority areas, election funding should be sourced from external sources.

Burundi will hold presidential and parliamentary polls next year and the financing for that is estimated at 3 percent of the gross domestic product.

Source:af.reuters.com/

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