IMF sees Niger's GDP growth rising to 6.5 pct this year

A photographer takes pictures through a glass carrying the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo during a news conference in Bucharest March 25, 2009. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger's economy is on track to expand by 6.5 percent this year with increased oil and uranium production likely to sustain the high level of growth in the mid-term, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement late on Sunday. The West African nation recorded GDP growth of 4.1 percent in 2013, falling short of initial projections after poor agricultural harvests offset gains from growing crude oil output.