A round-up of public finance stories from the Middle East & Africa you might have missed this week (November 26-30)

South Africa finance minister vows to reduce deficit

South Africa’s history of keeping the budget deficit under control should assure investors the government would reject any populist push within the ruling party, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said this week (IOL).

Oman to register 7% growth in 2013

Darwish bin Ismail al-Balushi, the Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs in Oman, has revealed he expects the national economy to register 7% growth in 2013, and also maintain the inflation rates at its current levels. (Times of Oman).

Cameroon proposes 16% increase in budget

The central African state of Cameroon has recommended a 16% hike in its 2013 budget (Ventures Africa).

Nigerian experts urge adoption of IPSAS

Stakeholders in the Nigerian financial sectors have called for the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards by all tiers of governments to match global best practices in the sector (Daily Trust).

Iran ‘to reduce dependence on oil revenue'

Iran plans to decrease its reliance on oil revenues in its next year state budget to one million barrels a day, a senior Iranian legislator has announced (Fars News Agency).