/ 12 January 1999

CHAD POSTS 7% GROWTH

CHAD’S economy grew by 7% in 1998, helped by good rains which pushed up food production, according to a bulletin published by the presidency’s economic service. The Bank of France’s Franc Zone secretariat has estimated Chad’s 1997 economic growth at 6,5%, the bulletin said. A clear improvement was noted in state revenues, payment of civil service salaries and control over government expenditure since Chad signed structural adjustment agreements with the IMF and the World Bank in 1994.