Budget on track for surprise diamond-backed surplus
Friday, January 13, 2023 | 1010 Views |
Balancing act: Serame’s books could be headed for a surplus at the end of March PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
The last time the budget recorded a first half surplus was in 2014-15 with P859 million, according to BoB records available online.
Finance Ministry technocrats have not yet revised their expectations of a P7.7 billion deficit for the current fiscal year, although Minister Peggy Serame is expected to give an update on the numbers when she delivers the budget next month.
While the minister is of the view that the proposal would have significant positive economic impact, the entertainment industry players believe otherwise. The issue has over the weeks become a hot potato. But what is of essence right now is that the country needs liberal ideas to move in the right direction While opening up the economy may sound quite interesting to the ear, rolling out extended trading hours through pilot programmes without...