The Asian Development Bank says limited economic growth is expected in Burma, where it says rising expenditures may surpass growth in government revenue.
In its annual report, the Manila-based bank says the country's growth prospects are diminished by sanctions and their effect on trade. Burma is the subject of international trade sanctions because of its poor human rights record.
The bank says Burma's important economic developments include the export of natural gas and the possibility for expanding gas exports through construction of new pipelines. It says natural gas constituted about a quarter of total exports in 2003 and the first four months of 2004.
The bank also says advances on poverty are expected to be limited because of the lack of funding for social spending and an inflation rate that exceeds growth in incomes.
