Dec 17 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo has increased its budget for 2025 by 25.8% compared with the previous year, driven by a projected increase in tax revenue and economic growth, according to a Senate document seen by Reuters.
The document showed spending would rise to 51.55 trillion Congolese francs ($18.28 billion) from 40.99 trillion Congolese francs ($14.54 billion) last year.
Senate President Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said on Sunday the budget reflects the government's goal of boosting tax collection and revenues from internal resources.
He added that access to basic services remains inadequate for many Congolese people despite improvements in the macroeconomic outlook for the mineral-rich country.
The adopted finance bill, which now awaits the president's signature, a formality in the process, projects economic growth at 5.7% and inflation at 10.3%.
That compares to figures provided by the IMF for 2024 that show Congo's economic growth a projected 4.7% and inflation at 17.8%.
In previous years, Congo's government has overestimated its growth and provided an overly rosy projection of inflation.
Among the sources of increased revenue for 2025, the government expects tax revenues to grow by over 18%, driven by contributions from the mining sector, a broadening of the tax base and renewed efforts to fight fraud and tax evasion.
Royalties of 957.2 billion Congolese francs ($339.43 million) from a revised mining deal with Sinohydro Corp and China Railway Group will be included for the first time in non-tax revenues.
Congo managed to complete its IMF programme for the first time this year.
In November, the country reached a staff-level agreement for a new three-year, $1.77 billion economic and financial program as well as a new three-year $1.1 billion climate-focused program.
($1 = 2,820.0000 Congolese francs)
(Reporting by Sonia Rolley; Editing by Anait Miridzhanian, Jessica Donati and Ros Russell)
((Anait.Miridzhanian@thomsonreuters.com;))
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