President Joseph Kabila on Thursday passed the vast Democratic Republic of Congos state budget for 2008, worth some 3,6 billion US dollar (ca. 18 milliarder DKR), national radio and television reported.
Most of the money is intended to pay State employees and keep institutions running at national and provincial levels, as well as repay part of a 12 billion dollar foreign debt.
Kabilas majority in parliament considered the budget a realistic increase of 33,1 percent over the last annual budget, basing it on anticipated economic growth of eight percent in the coming year rather than 6,5 percent in 2007.
The government aims to fund 64 percent of the budget from domestic resources while the rest would come from foreign partners.
If all goes well, DR Congo economic and monetary officials count on being able eventually to benefit from the International Monetary Funds Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, run in partnership with the World Bank.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
