By Fareeza Haniff
![Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during the press conference [Saturday, August 09]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ashni-.jpg)
At a press conference today [Saturday, August 09], Dr Singh also revealed that the non sugar economy grew by two percent. Given the improvement, the Finance Minister has now predicted an overall growth of 4.5 percent in the economy for 2014 and 3.6 percent in the non sugar economy.
He explained that while a few sectors continue to perform exceptionally, the Gold Industry continues to struggle. Despite many years of strong performance, gold declarations were lower by 17.2 percent compared to last year, Dr Singh told reporters.
Meanwhile, he noted that the rice industry continues to do well with another record rice crop of 312,283 tonnes during the first half of the year, while the sugar industry performed 66.5 percent – an increase from last year.
“The achievement of growth is a most commendable achievement,” Dr Singh said.
The overall balance of payments deficit improved to US$93 million, compared to US$145.6 million at half year 2013. Excluding gold, total exports grew by 4.3 percent to US$307.5 million in the first half of 2014.
Sugar exports returned US$34.4 million in earnings, a 26.4 percent increase. Rice export earnings increased to US$95.6 million, 14.9 percent higher than at June 2013.
Timber export earnings rose to US$21.3 million, a 31.3 percent increase. Gold exports earnings contracted by 24.6 percent to US$226.7 million.
Net domestic credit by the banking system to the private sector grew by 2.9 percent and credit growth was driven by the mining, construction & engineering and real estate sector which expanded by 10.3 percent, 7.6 percent, and 7.5 percent, respectively.
Credit to rice milling, other services and manufacturing also expanded by 6.4 percent, 5.4 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively. The consumer price index has declined marginally from the December 2013 level by 0.4 percent, reflecting continued stability in major commodity prices in the domestic marketplace.
The non-financial public sector recorded a surplus of $1.7 billion after grants in the first half of 2014.
As at end June 2014, Guyana’s total external public debt stood at US$1.23 billion which was 1.6 percent lower than at the end of 2013.
At the end of June 2014, Guyana’s domestic debt stock stood at US$422.7 million which was 11.8 percent below the end 2013 position.
8 consecutive years of economic growth and still opposition power gluts want power….they cant win election so they now have things set in place at GECOM so they can rig yet another election because they know PPPC does not have the security on its side..Hughes and Nagamoottoo threatening sinister things on things PPP/C are not saying and not doing…Whats opposition end game is anyone guess..PPP/C support base is large and can cripple Guyana economy…Anyone think black people going an cut cane? anyone think black people going to till the earth for foods? those who want PNC in power again better think long and hard..If its the UK and US want PNC in power they better have tremendous money to keep it in power..The Indians who want PNC in power must secure their visas ready to run based on PNC past record..PNC did it to Dr Jagan and Peter D..I say no more
good news for Guyana but bad news for apnu afc opposition. I guess we could have achieved about six or seven percent had the opposition supported the government’s development thrust.