Tanzania on track to hit 7.2 per cent growth in 2016: Central Bank

Tanzania’s economy is on track to expand by 7.2 percent in 2016, up from 7 percent in 2015, boosted by construction, an anti-corruption drive and better management of public resources, the central bank governor said on Wednesday.

President John Magufuli, elected last year, has launched a campaign against corruption and government waste, and promised to improve transport links and other infrastructure.

The International Monetary Fund told Tanzania in July to curb public spending, which has risen on the back of its infrastructure plans, and urged the government to implement structural reforms.

“Economic growth this year will be boosted by the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption, strengthen the management of public resources and construction of infrastructure as part of the country’s industrialisation plan,” Bank of Tanzania Governor Benno Ndulu told a news conference.

Ndulu also said the shilling had been steady in the first half of 2016 thanks to growing exports of goods and services and a slide in import costs, largely due to weaker global oil prices.