IMF sees Mali economic growth at 5 percent in 2015

BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s economy is expected to grow 5 percent in 2015, slowing from a 7 percent expansion in 2014, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday, following a meeting with leaders of the West African country.

Inflation in Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture and gold-producing, was expected to remain below the region’s 3 percent target, the fund said.”In 2014, Mali’s economy returned to strong growth, with an increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) of 7.2 percent. This contrasted with 2012 when growth was zero due to the security crisis, and 2013 when a poor harvest reduced growth to 1.7 percent,” the IMF said.