RWANDA: Kigali records economic gains, despite constraints
IRIN
Rwanda's economy grew 9.9 percent in 2002, but this result,
achieved in a region in turmoil, belies the continued difficulties that restrain
development, the UN Economic Commission For Africa (ECA) reported on Wednesday.
In its Economic Report on Africa for 2003, the ECA said one factor that explained Rwanda's
economic growth during the year under review had been good weather that boosted
agricultural output to 14.4 percent growth. The normal picture was that agricultural
productivity was sluggish, the ECA said, although the sector was the mainstay of the
economy.
But while the agriculture sector remained robust, the ECA said, the "GDP was
supported by rapid expansion in construction, growing at 15 percent". It added that
this was partly due to home building by returnees. On the whole, it said, there had been
little diversification of the economy and non-agricultural sectors remained limited, with
growth in these sectors being of "minor significance". [Full story at:
http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=35689]