There can be little doubt that this adds considerable buoyancy to the economy which would not otherwise be there. The first-round effect is clearest in the regions where resources have the greatest weight in economic activity. But there are still impacts around the rest of the country – for example, through the consumption of higher resource-derived incomes, and higher investment by the resource producers.
This is an item that has been on our agenda for a while and it is my hope that this study would set in motion the full process that could engage member countries towards the implementation of policies to make progress in this important area.