Two key factors need to be mentioned in this regard, namely the unfavourable climatic conditions which had a considerable impact on the agricultural sector, and the challenging trading environment encountered by the mining sector. Together these two factors caused the primary sector to contract at a rate of 15,5 per cent in the first quarter of 2016.
It is also important to promote structural reform in order to assure the economy’s sustained growth in the medium term. With regard to prices, import prices continue to rise due to the increase in international commodity prices such as crude oil prices.