Maputo, Mozambique, 2 May – The group of 18 countries and organizations that directly finances the Mozambican state budget is expected to announce it financing for 2008 as part of the Program Aid Partners program (PAP) on April 23.

Last year around US$330 million was provided by PAP for the Mozambican State Budget, which accounted for around a third of all foreign aid to the country.

The aim of direct aid to the Mozambican budget – one of the biggest joint programs in Africa, both in terms of volume and the number of partners involved – is to ensure the efficiency of financial aid in the implementation of PARPA II.

On Monday, representatives of the G-18 group made a positive evaluation of the Mozambican government’s use of the financing made available to it.

Mozambique’s partners particularly praised the country’s macro-economic performance, with the economy growing 8.5 percent, and sectors such as agriculture, although it warned that efforts should be increased to boost rural development and agricultural services.

Construction, transport and communications, management of public finances and health were other areas that were praised by the G-18, which also noted the progress made in treating HIV/AIDS carriers.

The performance of the country’s justice system was considered less satisfactory, being an area in which reforms “have to be increased to allow access by common citizens to justice,” said Frans Bijaet, the Netherlands’ ambassador to Mozambique, adding that fighting corruption was also a necessary focus.

At Monday’s ceremony Austria was formally introduced as a member of PAP, which will now be made up of 19 countries, and the presidency of the group was passed from the Netherlands to Norway. (macauhub)