The countries of sub-Saharan Africa should slow down growth to 4.5% and accelerate to 5.1% in 2016, predicts the International Monetary Fund in the first edition of this year’s ‘World Economic Outlook’, released today.
According to the document, the group of countries which includes most of the Portuguese speaking countries “must have solid growth in 2015 and 2016, but given the weaker global economic outlook , the economic prospects have been revised downwards compared with the earlier forecasts, “dated October last year, pointing to 5.75%.
The oil-exporting countries, which include Angola and Guinea Equatorial should be “the most severely affected,” with the IMF to provide for a reduction in the growth of this group of countries by 2.5 percentage points to 4.5%.
In the chapter on sub-Saharan Africa , entitled ‘Resilience to headwinds’, the IMF notes that growth should remain strong, but less pronounced than in previous years, mainly due to the decline in oil prices and the effect that had on the economies of Ebola region.
In a context where the risks of the forecasts are too optimistic are “exceptionally strong,” the IMF staff wrote that “the main risks include growth lower than expected in the main trading partners, a grip greater than expected in global financing conditions, and internal security threats, as well as the political uncertainty resulting from pre-election periods. “
The oil-exporting countries, particularly,” should quickly implement adjustments budget “, whereas importers must” strike the right balance between promoting growth and preserve stability. “
Last year, economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa slowed slightly to 5%, compared to 5.2% of 2013, but the government accounts deteriorated in some countries, especially Mozambique, because of exceptional expenditure driven, among other factors, by a general election.
MBA // VM
Lusa / End
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