Businesses predict 4.9% growth for 2013

The projected growth for 2013 is higher than the 4.1 percent forecast by the International Monetary Fund and significantly above the 3.5 percent government has forecast for 2012.

The private sector projections emerged from a September 2012 Bank of Botswana (BoB) survey involving nearly 100 businesses in sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, transport, and financial services. "As with the March 2012 survey, respondents are concerned by weak domestic demand, which tends to limit their expansion plans," the BoB said.