The Republic of Congo and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $602,000 grant agreement to support the rebasing of the country’s national accounts, a move expected to modernise economic statistics and boost fiscal transparency.
The deal, signed on August 4 in Brazzaville by Economy Minister Ludovic Ngatse and AfDB’s Central Africa Director General, Leandre Bassole, will update the base year for calculating Congo’s economic indicators from 2005 to align with the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA 2008). It also prepares the ground for a transition to SNA 2025, which incorporates environmental assets into national wealth.
Officials said the rebasing will better capture underrepresented sectors such as digital services, telecommunications, the informal economy, and non-profit institutions. A likely upward revision of nominal GDP could lower Congo’s debt-to-GDP and deficit ratios, strengthening its risk profile and improving access to cheaper financing.
“This project aims to ensure that Congo’s GDP reflects its true value,” Ngatse said, adding that improved indicators would enhance transparency and credibility with international partners.
AfDB’s Bassole described credible economic data as critical for sound policy. “This recalibration will strengthen economic governance, improve Congo’s market visibility, and integrate sustainability criteria into wealth measurement,” he said.
The 18-month project is part of Congo’s National Statistics Development Strategy (2022–2026), with the AfDB emphasising its commitment to reliable data as a foundation for governance, debt sustainability, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
