Chairman's Report
THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
The operating environment in 2016 continued to be challenging, characterized by high inflation and a food output deficitfollowing poor weather conditions.The country is expected to record a weak GDP growth rate of 2.5% compared to previous higher projections. Prices for tobacco, the mainstay of the country’s export sector,were 19% below those of the previous year, resulting in the crop’s export earnings being 18% lower than the previous year. Annual average inflation for 2016 was recorded at 21.7% compared to 21.9% the year before.





