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Summary Sub-Saharan Africa's economy will expand at a slower rate in 2012 than earlier projected, says IMF.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated global financial distress and a sluggish recovery in South Africa as one of the reasons of slow rate.Africas growth has remained above 5 percent in the last eight years, underpinned by strong prices for its natural resources, better governance and growing disposable incomes.In its latest Regional Economic Outlook, the IMF forecast 5.4 percent growth this year from 5.1 percent in 2011. Its previous projections were 5.9 and 5.5 percent respectively.The growth outlook for 2012 is somewhat less favourable than outlined in the October 2011 Regional Economic Outlook, with the growth projection for 2012 now cut by almost one-half a percentage point, driven in large part by the weaker economic outlook for South Africa, the IMF said.Growth in Africas economic powerhouse was likely to be a relatively modest 2.7 percent this year and 3.4 percent in the next, held back by its reliance on trade with Europe and close links with western financial markets, the Fund said.However, an upturn in drought-hit east Africa, fresh outputin new natural resource producers such as Niger and Sierra Leoneand recovery in post-conflict nations such as Ivory Coast shouldhelp boost the continents economic activity in 2012.Sierra Leone and Niger could post outstanding growth of 35.9and 14 percent respectively. Big oil-producers Nigeria andAngola will also be major drivers of the expansion.Economies reliant on non-renewable resources areexperiencing faster growth but are also suffering the worstvolatility in exports, revenues and GDP expansion, the IMF said.
