By Eugene Kwibuka
Members of parliament yesterday approved a government proposal to
increase the national budget by nearly 12 per cent to stabilise the
country’s economy in the next three months that remain before the end of
the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Finance minister John Rwangombwa
The Rwf1,385.3 billion budget which was initially approved by parliament
for the fiscal year 2012-2013 should be revised upwards to Rwf 1,549.9
billion.
This is due to current world economic prospects, suspended aid, and
investment priorities in the next three months, the Finance Minister
told parliament yesterday.
Presenting the bill seeking to modify the current budget law, Minister
John Rwangombwa, said the cabinet has proposed a net increase of Rwf
164.6 billion to the original budget.
He said the country has projected additional resources worth Rwf 227
billion from Euro bond proceeds accrued from a sovereign bond issued to
European markets, which the government will invest in its major business
projects and eventually mitigate the gap left by aid cuts.
The minister said the Euro bonds funds will especially be on-lent as
soft loans to Rwandair and the Kigali Conference Centre (KCC). He said
both projects will help the country attract foreign currencies because
the funds will help Rwandair to end existing expensive debt while the
KCC project will be completed to boost events tourism in the country.
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