Over half of Africans are optimistic about the continent's economic future, as indicated in the result of a Gallup survey released at the World Economic Forum African Summit, which started Wednesday in South Africa's coastal city Cape Town.

The Gallup International survey, conducted in 61 countries including eight states in Africa, inquired more than 58,000 persons and found out that 52 percent of African residents believed that the continent's economic performance in 2006 would be better than last year.

Compared to the rest of the world where 48 percent of interviewees express optimism for Africa's tomorrow, Africans are more confident in their own future.

According to the statistics, in Africa, Nigerians are the most optimistic with a percentage of 61 thinking the year 2006 will be better, closely followed by people of South African, Senegal and Guinea Bissau. The scores for the other four countries were below 50%: Gabon 47%, Morocco 37%, Cameroon 31% and Kenya 26%.

Large proportions also believed that there would be little difference between 2005 and 2006. It was only in Cameroon where a rather large proportion of 4 in every 10 said that they expected 2006 to be worse.

Africa has been enjoying a record economic growth with its 2005 gross domestic products growth rate registered at 5.8 percent. According to the latest data released by the International Monetary Found (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook, last year's strong growth is to be repeated this year at a prospected 5.5 percent.

More than 700 leaders from business, government, civil society and academia, representing more than 40 countries, are convening at the 16th World Economic Forum on Africa meeting under the theme "Going for Growth".

Billed as the "Davos of Africa", African heads of state, senior officials and business leaders are reviewing Africa's unprecedented growth path through sessions on a range of issues designed to generate action plans for the coming year.

Source: Xinhua