Meeting of the National Economic and Financial Committee (CNEF) of Congo

A slight increase in real GDP of 0.5% expected in 2021
17 Feb, 2021

The National Economic and Financial Committee (CNEF) of Congo met in ordinary session by videoconference on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at the National Directorate of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) in Brazzaville. Under the chairmanship of Ludovic Ngatsé, Minister Delegate for the Budget, representing Calixte Nganongo, Minister of Finance and Budget, the proceedings were attended by Abbas Mahamat Tolli, Governor of the BEAC, based in Yaoundé (Cameroon).

 

During this meeting, the Committee first took cognizance of the recent economic and financial situation of the Congo, as well as its prospects for the year 2021, in the light of the evolution of the international and sub-regional environment, and the evaluation carried out by the BEAC services.  It then analyzed the evolution of the different modalities of financing the Congolese economy, before examining the CNEF's Report on the execution of the budget for the year 2020.

At the national level, the Committee noted that, despite all the measures taken to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, economic activity would record a sharp decline of 7.3% in 2020, against - 0.2% in 2019, linked to the underperformance of the oil (- 8.8%, after +1.4% in 2019) and non-oil (- 6.1%, against -1.4% in 2019) sectors. 

On the other hand, in 2021, the situation should improve with a slight increase in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 0.5%, in line with the good performance expected in non-oil activities (+8.1%), particularly in the secondary and tertiary sectors, notwithstanding the continued contraction of oil sector activities (-9.1%).

On the price front, the Committee noted an absence of inflationary pressures, with an estimated annual average inflation rate of 0.0% at end 2020, compared with 2.3% a year earlier, in line with the weakening of domestic demand and international prices.

Examining the various methods of financing the Congolese economy, the Committee noted the following developments as of end-December 2020: First, a 14.8 percent year-on-year increase in credit to the economy; second, an 11.5 percent decline in outstanding loans, notwithstanding their still very high level; and third, an increase in the volume and value of Congolese Treasury issues on the CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) open market for public securities, particularly in the Assimilable Treasury Bonds (OTA) segment. It commends the government's efforts to gradually clear outstanding domestic debt through the Brazzaville Club, which has had an immediate beneficial effect on the situation of the banking system and its ability to support the financing of domestic economic activities. 

On the reforms undertaken to improve the instruments for financing the national economy, the Committee encouraged the Government to implement the recommendations of the study conducted with the assistance of the World Bank on the introduction of factoring and leasing in Congo.

 

The Press Office of the Ministry of Finance

Category:NEWS
Sub Category:FINANCES