The increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is mainly due to the national rice initiative project and the increase in cereal production, which reached over 4.8 millions tons in 2008, against 3.8 millions the previous year, the government said in a statement issued after the weekly cabinet meeting here Wednesday.
However, the Malian government lamented the fact that cotton and gold production fell in 2008.
According to government statistics, the quantity of gold production dropped from 56.8 tons in 2007 to 52.8 in 2008. Cotton and gold are the key foreign exchange earners for the country.
Meanwhile, the service sector (transportation, telecommunications, banks and insurance) recorded a 4.9% growth in 2008, compared with 10.4 in 2007.
In view of the global economic outlook, the Malian government is expecting a modest 4.8% growth for 2009.
Bamako - 16/07/2009
Pana
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