Rwandan 2008 Budget Highlights

UNCLAS KIGALI 001005 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C DEPARTMENT PASS USTDA: EEBONG DEPARTMENT PASS USTR: WJACKSON DEPARTMENT PASS COMMERCE: RTELCHIN DEPARTMENT PASS OPIC: BCAMERON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON PGOV PREL RW SUBJECT: Rwandan 2008 Budget Highlights ¶1. Summary. Minister of Finance James Musoni officially presented the 2008 budget to the Parliament on October 16. The overall budget is approximately USD 1.1 billion, a 15 increase from the previous year. Musoni predicted 6.6 growth in the economy with inflation dropping to 5 by 2008. He proposed significant budget increases for the Ministries of Infrastructure, Agriculture and Health, while proposing budgets cuts for the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministries of Information and Justice. Parliamentary examination of the budget is now underway as ministers defend their individual budgets. The Parliament's Budget Commission will work with the Minister of Finance to make potential adjustments within each ministry before presenting a final budget back to the plenary session of Parliament and to receive final Senate confirmation. The budget appropriately reflects the priorities outlined by the government and the international donors for economic development and poverty reduction. The budgetary process, including the questioning of each minister's priorities by the Parliament, while imperfect, is a sign of increased transparency, open debate, and growing Parliamentary independence. End Summary. 2007 ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND 2008 PROJECTIONS ¶2. During his October 16 presentation of the budget to the Parliament, Minister Musoni reviewed the 2007 economic performance of the country, noting continued progress on several fronts, and suggesting the economy is on track to reach a GDP growth of 6.6%. Foreign currency receipts increased 22% from USD 414 million to USD 506 million from December 2006 to September 2007. Musoni stated that increased exports and increased donor funding will augment Rwanda's foreign currency account. He predicted that exports will continue to rise by 15% next year. Private sector credit increased by 11.3% in 2007 compared to 2006, expanding the amount of money lent by financial institutions. Musoni projected this to increase at a rate of 12% over the next three years. He also promised to develop strategies to decrease existing credit rates which average 15% per year. ¶3. Minister Musoni estimated that inflation will average 7.5% by the end of 2007, but predicted that prices will stabilize in 2008 at an annual inflation rate of 5% (septel will address the rising cost of living in Rwanda). Export receipts increased by 7% in 2007, but imports increased by 23%, widening the existing trade deficit by 30% in 2007. ¶4. Other predictions for 2008 included a 15% increase in farm exports, 7% increase in industrial production, and a 9% increase in tourism receipts. In addition, tax revenues are projected to increase to USD 600 million by 2010 from USD 417 million collected in 2007. ¶5. The overall domestic fiscal deficit was lower than projected, Musoni reported, because the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) collected more domestic revenues than expected and the Government of Rwanda (GOR) initiated a successful policy of monitoring performance contracts of all institutions. ¶6. The Ministries of Heath and Education reported overspending 19.8% and 2% respectively on salaries and wages, while the Ministry of Education reported underspending on goods and services by 36%, primarily on books and other school materials as well as on the construction of schools. ¶7. Following the presentation of the budget, Duncan Overfield, Chief Economist at United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and chair of the budget support group (a working group composed of donors providing direct budget support to the Ministry of Finance),confirmed to EconOff that the government reporting (including expenditures and inflation figures) are accurate and dismissed any suggestion of GOR misreporting. He commented that project support aid, as provided by the USG, is difficult to capture in the overall budget. He urged all donors to provide direct budget support as he believes the large amounts of money spent off-budget make it difficult to monitor and to have a complete picture of government expenditures. REVENUES ¶8. Domestic revenues are projected to be USD 595.2 million, representing 54 of the entire budget, while foreign grants will account for 46 or USD 516.4 million. Domestic revenue will represent 13 of GDP in 2008. 85 of domestic revenues consist of fiscal revenues, 8 will be foreign loans, and 5 will be domestic borrowing. ¶9. The World Bank, the African Development Bank, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Union will provide approximately USD 516.4 million in direct budget support for 2008, representi ng 46 of the overall budget. Other donors, notably the USG, will continue to provide project support and the GOR will work to capture these figures in budget reports to provide the most complete ¶10. In compliance with the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) conditions and to keep its debt sustainable, the GOR will favor grants as a form of financing and will maintain borrowing levels at highly concessional rates of 50% (i.e., 50% loan and 50% grant). However, if adequate grant financing is not made available, he said, the GOR would seek loans with only 35% concessionality. This would require a waiver from current international arrangements. EXPENDITURES ¶11. Pending Parliament's approval, the following ministries will be targeted for significant increases: the Ministry of Infrastructure will receive the largest share of the 2008 budget to be mainly allocated for roads and energy development. Its allocation will increase by 17% to USD 187 million. The Ministry of Agriculture will receive a 37% increase to USD 47 million; the Ministry of Health budget will increase by 21%; the Ministry of Education budget will increase by 6%; the Ministry of Commerce budget will increase by 20% directed mainly at export promotion and construction of the free trade zone; the Ministry of Lands and Environment budget will increased by 40%. ¶12. Other GOR offices' budgets are being cut. The Office of the Prime Minister, which encompasses the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Information, and the Ministry of Gender and Family Planning received a 17% cut to USD 9 million. Of note, the Ministry of Justice received a 34% budget reduction to USD 15 million for ¶2008. Musoni explained that the reduction is because the gacacca traditional court system that has been trying genocide suspects is winding down its mandate. OPEN DEBATE ¶13. Members of Parliament openly questioned Musoni's rationale for budget allocation. For example, Juvenal Nkusi of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) felt more energy resources should be dedicated towards the methane extraction projects in Lake Kivu. Aron Makuba, another PSD member, pushed Musoni for solutions to rising costs of living. Other issues raised during Musoni's presentation included East African Community (EAC) integration and the government plan to recover funds from students who studied on government scholarships. ¶14. During the week of October 22, members of the Parliament's Budget Commission began the process of questioning each minister regarding priority areas to be funded through the 2008 budget. As Francois Nkurikiyimfura, Director of the Treasury, explained the process to EconOff, the Budget Commission will work with the Minister of Finance to make potential adjustments within each ministry before presenting a final budget back to the plenary session of Parliament and to receive final Senate confirmation. The overall budget and each ministry's allocation cannot be increased or decreased, but spending priorities within each ministry can be adjusted. The President of the Budget Commission, Constance Mukayuhi, told EconOff that her commission is not given adequate time and lacks staff expertise to analyze and propose adjustments to the budget, but appreciates being involved in the process. ¶15. According to the IMF country representative, Lars Engstrom, the budget as reported by the Minister of Finance, reflects the priorities laid out in the GOR's draft Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS),balancing development goals and poverty reduction. The allocations also reflect a good balance between productive sectors, infrastructure, and human development. ¶16. Comment: Because Rwanda's economic performance is heavily based on its exports, it is important to note that world prices for Rwanda's main exports -- coffee and minerals, are expected to drop in the upcoming year. Overall export volume must increase significantly to offset the decreased prices. The international oil market will also be a significant factor for the Rwandan economy, as the GOR will continue to provide subsidies to the petroleum sector. The current upward trend in world oil prices could put an unanticipated burden on budget expenditures if the GOR continues its policy of subsidizing markets to curb inflation. The GOR has competing interests it must balance, but it has outlined a long-term strategy for itself and the 2008 budget appears to keep true to that vision. The budgetary process, including the questioning of each minister of his/her priorities by the Parliament, while imperfect, is a sign of increased transparency, open debate, and growing Parliamentary independence. End Comment. ARIETTI