IMF bullish on Botswana growth prospects

Optimistic: Matambo
Optimistic: Matambo

Botswana’s economic recovery is expected to strengthen to 4.5% this year before reaching almost five percent in 2018, supported by a pickup in diamond demand, public investment and structural reforms, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes.

In a country report released this week, the IMF said following a downturn in 2015, annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to gradually increase to 4.8% by 2018, supported by a recovery in the diamond market and moderate fiscal stimulus.

The IMF’s growth projection is more bullish than government forecasts. Presenting the 2017 national budget in February, finance minister, Kenneth Matambo said the local economy was expected to grow by 4.2% this year.

Editor's Comment
Routine child vaccination imperative

The recent Vaccination Day in Motokwe, orchestrated through collaborative efforts between UNICEF, USAID, BRCS, and the Ministry of Health, underscores a commendable stride towards fortifying child health services.The painful reality as reflected by the Ministry of Health's data regarding the decline in routine immunisation coverage since the onset of the pandemic, is a cause for concern.It underscores the urgent need to address the...

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