Africa’s CEMAC zone to grow 6 pct in 2012: regional c.bank

The economies of Central Africa’s six-country CEMAC bloc will grow at an average of 6 percent in 2012, up from 4.8 percent in 2011, the governor of the zone’s central bank said on Wednesday.

Governor Lucas Abaga Nchama said that the bank forecast inflation at 1.7 percent, down from a November forecast of 2.2 percent.

Nchama said the healthy growth would come from strong prices for natural resources, increased domestic demand, economic reforms and the diversification of trading partners by the region’s members.

Despite the healthy outlook, the governor warned that the zone would have to remain vigilant to external shocks stemming from the uncertain state of the global economy.

CEMAC is made up of Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. All except CAR are oil-exporting countries.

Reuters.