As Botswana celebrates Governor Moses Pelaelo's announcement on Tuesday that economic growth is expected to accelerate to 5.3 per cent in 2018, supported by increased government spending and lower lending rates, experts warn of risks elsewhere. According to the central bank, Botswana's economy grew at an estimated 4.7 per cent in 2017, contracting in the third quarter following a sharp fall in gem exports due to weak global demand. The local economy is heavily dependent on the performance in the global economy as it provides a market for local exports. Therefore, now that the world economy has turned a new leaf and prospects for a steady and strengthening recovery have improved, things are looking up for the domestic economy. An economist at Barclays Bank Botswana, Naledi Madala, forecasts improved performance in mining and manufacturing sectors in 2018. "Although economic structure signals that there has been diversification due to increase in contribution to GDP by non-mining sector, it could possibly be a reminder that natural resources are finite," she warns. She said just like in 2017 inflation is forecast to remain stable for 2018, while Bank of Botswana is expected to leave the bank rate unchanged at 5% for most of…