The minister for Finance chose the theme,“Enhancing Efficiency for Accelerated Economic Growth”, for this year’s budget speech. In common with last year’s theme, the Minister is concentrating on ensuring economic growth. Against the expected growth rate of 2.3%, the registered growth rate for the financial year 2003-2004 was 1.8%. For the coming year, the Minister forecasts a growth rate of 3.0% in the expectation that this reported rate forms the foundation for sustained growth.