Cote d'Ivoire parliament approves 6% increase of state budget

Cote d'Ivoire's parliament has approved a bill to authorize a 6 percent increase of the state budget from 7.6 billion U. S. dollars to more than 7.7 billion dollars. The bill presented before parliament by Cote d'Ivoire's Finance Minister Kaba Niale was unanimously adopted by members of the parliamentary committee on finance and economic affairs on Monday. Niale said the revision "is in line" with the objectives of this year's economic and financial program which is being readjusted. She explained that the revision of the 2013 budget is aimed at taking into account "certain new factors, especially the new sources of income as well as completion of some projects and the postponement of some expenditures or investments." Some of the "new factors" include the extension of the northern corridor, the construction of Jacqueville bridge and reintegration of ex-combatants by the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Authority (ADDR). After several years of recession, Cote d'Ivoire is on the verge of economic revival with last year recording a growth rate of 9.8 percent and this year an estimated 9 percent. The government forecast over 10 percent growth in 2014 and 2015.