10.

Total Government expenditure for FY2000 is estimated at $29.0 billion or 17.5 per cent of GDP, a rise of 12.5 per cent over expenditure in FY99. Development expenditure is projected to grow 21.1 per cent to reach $12.9 billion. Operating expenditure, on the other hand, is estimated to increase by 6.4 per cent to $16.1 billion, a rate of increase that is lower than the nominal GDP growth rate. The lower rate of increase of operating expenditure, as compared to that for development expenditure, underlines Government's commitment to keep recurrent cost increases within sustainable limits. Operating and development expenditure account for 9.7 per cent and 7.8 per cent of GDP respectively.