DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) – Tinaya ng International Monetary Fund nitong Lunes ang economic growth sa six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council sa 1.8 porsiyento ngayong taon, bumaba mula sa 3.3% noong 2015, at nanawagan ng pagtitipid.
Sa isang panayam ng AFP, sinabi rin ni IMF regional chief Masood Ahmed na dapat isulong ng oil-exporting Gulf states ang paghahanap ng ibang mapagkakakitaan sa harap ng patuloy na pagbaba ng presyo ng krudo.
Masasaksihan sa taong ito ang “continuation of a low oil-price environment, so we are going to see further — maybe $100 billion or so, in terms of lower revenues from oil exports” sabi ni Ahmed ng GCC na kinabibilangan ng Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia at United Arab Emirates.
“This is now beginning to affect not just the financing (of governments) but also the economies in terms of their economic activities,” aniya sa Dubai, kung saan inilunsad niya ang regional economic outlook update ng IMF.
