Highlights

Budget 2012 Facts and 2013 Targets.

2012 Facts

Growth in real GDP of 4.8% compared to a target of 4.1% and actual rate of 5.4% in 2011.

Overall balance of payments surplus of US$12.4Mn compared with a deficit of US$15Mn in 2011.

Decline in the 91-day Treasury bill rate from 2.35% in 2011 to 1.45%.

Inflation rate of 3.5% compared with a target of 4.6% and actual rate of 3.3% in 2011.

Depreciation of the Guyana dollar to the US dollar by 0.37%. Average market mid-rates for US$ depreciated by 0.14% with the Canadian dollar and Pound Sterling depreciating by 2.79% and 1.96% respectively, to December 2012.  The market mid-rate for the Euro appreciated by 0.72%.

Current Revenue of $130.2Bn compared with $120.9Bn in 2011, an increase of 7.7%.

A 5% across the board increase to all public servants and members of the disciplined services.

Exports and imports expanded by 23.6% to US$1.5Bn and 11.7% to US$2Bn respectively.

Current account deficit of US$394.8Mn (2011: US$372.2Mn); and net inflows on the capital account of US$428.5Mn (2011: US$373.2Mn). Overall fiscal deficit of $27.6Bn compared to $16.4Bn in 2011.

Total external reserves at year end for Bank of Guyana of US$862.2Mn, up from US$798.1Mn in 2011.

Signing of first “debt compensation agreement” with Venezuela, reducing the Petrocaribe debt by US$100.8Mn, which is equivalent to the value of rice and paddy shipped from December 2009 – July 2011.

2013 Targets

Size of the Budget: $208.8Bn, 19.6% increase

Inflation rate of 4.3%.

Growth in Real GDP of 5.3%, with the non-sugar economy growing by 5%.

Balance of payments overall surplus of US$57.6Mn.

Capital account to register a surplus of US$509.5Mn.

Current revenue of $162.8Bn, an increase of 24.9%, including GRIF inflows of $20Bn.

Overall fiscal deficit of the Central Government at $29.1Bn.

Overall deficit of the non-financial sector to decline to 4.4% of GDP and totalling $28Bn.

Overall deficit of financial operations from $31.8Bn to $33.7Bn.

Capital expenditure to increase by 51.8% to $85.7Bn.

Value added and excise taxes of $61.3Bn, an increase of 7.7% and customs and trade taxes of $14Bn, expanding by 9.1%.