Rwandan growth falls short

Rwanda’s economy grew by
5.9% in 2016, with gross
domestic product at current
prices estimated at RF6 618
billion (R102 300 million), up
from RF5 956 billion in 2015.
However, the growth
fell just short of the 6.0%
projected by the country’s
Ministry of Finance and
Economic Planning, as well
as that of the International
Monetary Fund.
The growth was also slower
compared to 6.9% registered
in 2015, Rwanda’s daily New
Times reported recently.
The director-general of
the National Institute of
Statistics of Rwanda (NISR),
Yusuf Murangwa, reported
that the failure to meet the
projected performance was a
result of the agriculture sector
performing poorly due to
prolonged drought and floods
in some parts of the country.
Conversely, the main
drivers for growth in 2016
were the industry and service
sectors which both grew by
7%.