Fast Market Research

Report Published: "Botswana Business Forecast Report Q3 2014"

New Country Reports research report from Business Monitor International is now available from Fast Market Research

 

Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/26/2014 -- On the back of preliminary 2013 data we have made revisions to our real GDP growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015, from 4.7% and 4.9% to 6.2% and 4.5% respectively. We expect investment and private consumption to be the key drivers of growth in 2014, while net exports will be a drag.

We maintain a positive outlook on Botswana's exports in 2014 and in the next several years, driven by a recovery in the diamond sector, and the rise of the country's coal industry. This will serve to narrow the country's current account deficit, and eventually turn this into a surplus.

We have revised down our fiscal balance forecast for Botswana on the back of an announcement by President Ian Khama that public servants will enjoy a 4.0% wage increase this year. While we still project a budget surplus for 2014, this is reduced somewhat from our previous outlook.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

We expect the Bank of Botswana to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 7.50% at its next monetary policy committee meeting on April 9. While previously we had envisaged a cut, a number of factors - not least rising inflation - have caused us to revise our outlook. Nevertheless, we believe that monetary policy will remain fairly accommodative over the course of 2014.

Key Risks To Outlook

We continue to note the risks to our forecasts posed by ongoing revisions to Botswana's national accounts estimates. Amid ongoing efforts by Statistics Botswana to more accurately portray the size and structure of the economy, GDP estimates remain subject to frequent and often notable adjustments.

Given Botswana's dependence on imported energy and food any unexpected rise in global food or oil prices beyond our current projections, would pose a risk to our growth outlook.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is a leading distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff is always available to help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Country Reports research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Oman and Yemen Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Kuwait Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Brazil Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Chile Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Hong Kong Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Hungary Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Philippines Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Pakistan Business Forecast Report Q3 2014
- Lithuania Business Forecast Report Q3 2014