This year’s Regional Economic Outlook for Africa titled “Maintaining Growth in an Uncertain World” was launched at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Tokyo. The report finds that economic activity in the region has continued generally robust amid the hesitant global recovery. Regional output is projected to expand by about 5¼ percent in 2012 and 2013, a similar pace to that observed in 2010–11. However, challenges remain and against the uncertain global outlook the report takes an in-depth look at the economic outlook of the continent and its resistance against global shocks, like for instance a prolonged euro crisis, or shock to commodity prices. The reports analytical chapters focus on the nature and spillover from the two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria to the region; and look at the extent to which strong growth performance in the region since the mid-1990 has been accompanied by structural transformation and rising productivity.

Our panel will present the findings of this report and discuss its implications for Africa and the rest of the world.