Zanzibar economy grew by 4.4 in 2016
By Mnaku Mbani
Zanzibar economy real GDP grew at an average of 4.4 percent during
the first three quarters of 2016, compared with 8.0 percent recorded in the
corresponding period in 2015.The Bank of Tanzania Monetary Policy Statement 2017 published
today has said the moderate growth was primarily attributed to decline in the
growth rates of construction, and information and communication activities.
The strong growth rates were recorded in arts and
entertainments, finance and insurance, professional, scientific and technical,
mining and quarrying and administrative and support services.
During the period, headline inflation slowed down to 2.3 percent
in November 2016 before increasing slightly to 3.0 percent in December 2016,
down from 9.3 percent recorded in June 2016. This decrease was largely driven
by decline in food prices.
During the first half of
2016/17, total domestic revenue amounted to TZS 250.2 billion, surpassing the
target by 6.1 percent, due to improved collection in import taxes, VAT and
excise duties.
Total expenditure amounted to TZS 282.1 billion, or 1.1 percent
above the estimate, with recurrent expenditure accounting for 79.7 percent and
development expenditure 20.3 percent.
Total grants amounted to TZS 22.1 billion compared with the
projection of TZS 5.4 billion, owing to increased inflows of official development
assistance.
During the first half of 2016/17, current account balance
recorded a surplus of USD 35.4 million compared to a deficit of USD 40.9
million recorded in the corresponding period in 2015/16.
This development was largely explained by the increase in
exports of goods and services, mainly tourism receipts, coupled with decline in
imports of goods and services particularly oil.
Maoni
Chapisha Maoni