Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth remained strong in 2012, largely driven by the service and industry sectors. Agriculture grew by a moderate 3.0% during the first three quarters of 2012 due to unfavourable weather conditions. The diversification of markets for tea and minerals, particularly coltan, boosted the export sector, which increased by 24.8% in 2012. Development assistance is key to the 2013 economic outlook. Assuming that aid, suspended by some development partners in 2012, resumes in 2013, GDP growth is projected to moderate to 7.1% in 2013. This projection takes into account other factors, including programmed fiscal consolidation, which prioritises public spending towards strategic investments, which, in turn, dampens aggregate demand, as well as a tight monetary policy that is a deterrant to the expansion of private sector credit. A protracted suspension of foreign assistance, however, could undermine Rwanda’s economic prospects including a further reduction in real GDP growth and reverse progress towards the MDGs.