Rwanda unveils 3.5 bln USD fiscal budget to build economic resilience

KIGALI,

Rwanda on Monday presented a 3.2 trillion Rwandan Francs (about 3.5 billion U.S dollars) 2020/21 fiscal budget that is intended to build economic resilience following shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uzziel Ndagijimana, minister of finance and economic planning presented the budget, which starts on July 1, before parliament in the capital Kigali.

According to the minister, one of the key priorities is supporting the recovery of businesses affected by COVID-19.

The other areas include strengthening health system by increasing accessibility to quality health services for all, increasing agriculture and livestock productivity and promotion of "Made in Rwanda" policy to reduce trade deficit and build economic resilience.

The budget will also focus on promoting digital infrastructure and technologies to improve service delivery, improving access to quality education, eradicating malnutrition and stunting, strengthen disaster preparedness and management and promoting employment through investment in public infrastructure.

Ndagijimana said the budget will be financed through domestic resources amounting to 60.7 percent of the entire budget. The 39.3 percent will be funded through external sources. (Xinhua)