(Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon’s investment expenditure stood at XAF78 billion in Q1 2019 compared to XAF332.3 billion in Q1 2018. This represents a decline by XAF254.4 billion (-76.5%) between the two periods.

According to the finance ministry, spending execution rate as at March 21, 2019, was 23.1% since monies were XAF259.3 billion down the XAF337.4 billion expected for the quarter. The weak performance, the ministry says, is linked to slow evolution in main components of capital expenditure.

Equity-related spending reached XAF41.2 billion at the end of March 2019, down XAF101.2 billion (-71.1%) compared to the same period last year and down XAF163.2 billion compared to quarterly forecast of XAF204.4 billion (an implementation rate of 20.2%).

Externally funded investment expenditure declined by XAF151 billion year-on-year to XAF32 billion at the end of March 2019. Compared to the XAF123 billion forecasted, their implementation rate is 26%.

Restructuring expenses amounted to XAF4.8 billion at the end of March 2019, compared with XAF7 billion in Q1 2018. They are down by XAF5.2 billion compared to the XAF10 billion forecasted for the quarter, representing an implementation rate of 48%.

S.A