Mozambican gov't predicts economy to grow 5.5 pct in 2017
Xinhua, December 8, 2016 Adjust font size:
The Mozambican government's Economic and Social Plan for 2017, introduced by Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario in the country's parliament on Wednesday, has predicted an annual economic growth of 5.5 percent next year.
The main driver of growth in 2017 is expected to be the energy industry with a forecast growth rate of 24 percent, compared with an estimated growth of 13.2 percent this year. The revival in international coal prices is expected to lead to an increase in the amount of coal mined from 7.8 million tonnes this year to more than 11 million tonnes in 2017, according to the plan.
Agricultural and livestock production is expected to rise by 5.9 percent, and output from manufacturing industry is also predicted to rise by 5.8 percent, while electricity production should rise by 16 percent, according to the plan.
The target growth rate in the southern African country for 2016 was 7 percent in the beginning of this year. However, the current forecast has reduced growth forecast for this year to 3.9 percent, state-run Mozambique News Agency reported Wednesday. Endit