| Summary: | Following a two-year recession, economic activity is expected to recover in 2019. Public spending, which has traditionally been the key driver of economic growth, increased by 16 percent in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same period in 2018. Higher spending was predominantly focused on current expenditure, while capital spending was more subdued. Only a more dynamic private sector will enable the economy to grow faster and in a more sustainable way. Policy priorities for increasing firm performance include increasing firm access to finance, skills and affordable inputs, as well as easing firm entry and reducing regulatory uncertainty. Additional policy areas for reform may include the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime (affecting entry) and the insolvency and creditor rights system (affecting exit).
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