Economic growth in Niger could stand at 4.1% in 2020 against
6.9% in 2019, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerien minister said on Tuesday.
Finance Mamadou Diop.
Mr Diop made the statement during a press conference with his Budget colleague Ahmat
Jidoud, on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Niger and mitigation measures
considered by the government.
According to Mr. Diop, "an overall loss of 2.8 percentage points in the growth rate for the year 2020 is
draws, after the assessment of the economic impact of the health crisis".
It is marked by "a slowdown, even a halt in economic activities, a freeze in
public and private investments, a decline in employment, wages, income and consumption
households,” he explained.
"The current situation will lead to a drop in internal revenue of about 89.2 billion FCFA (150
million dollars), a deterioration of the overall balance of the balance of payments of 72.9 billion FCFA
($122.6 million) over original 2020 guidance,” he continued.
To deal with this situation, tempered the Minister of Finance, the government has planned measures
support for populations and the economy estimated at 597 billion FCFA (more than a billion dollars),
i.e. 7.4% of GDP. These requirements will be updated as the situation evolves.
globally and nationally, he said.
As of March 31, Niger had registered 34 cases of infection with the new coronavirus (COVID-19), including
three deaths, recalled the Ministry of Health. End