The EBRD’s latest economic outlook has revised down predictions for 2019. It now expects average growth across the EBRD economies of 2.3 per cent, a 0.3 percentage point cut from the previous Novemberforecast, and compared with 3.4 per cent expansion in 2018. It forecasts a recovery to 2.6 per cent in 2020.
The report also says EBRD countries have become more exposed to external shocks because of greater integration with the global economy. At the same time, countries are now better equipped to deal with such shocks because they have taken steps to increase their economic resilience.
In Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, average growth will likely fall from 3.0 per cent in 2018 to 2.8 per cent in 2019.
In Ukraine, a deceleration of growth in key trading partners and domestic political uncertainties due to twin elections are expected to cause a temporary slowdown in growth to 2.5 per cent in 2019, from 3.3 percent in 2018.
In contrast, growth in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region is projected to pick up from 4.4 per cent in 2018 to 4.6 per cent in 2019, supported by the roll-out of reforms aimed at improving the business environment and boosting domestic and foreign investment.
Robust economic growth in Egypt is expected to continue, supported by the sustained recovery in tourist arrivals and exports, large public construction projects, higher natural gas production and various reforms.
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