Country Reports
2022
February 7, 2022
Central African Republic: Request for a Staff Monitored Program
Description: President Touadéra was reelected for a second term, despite attempts by armed groups to prevent the general and presidential elections from being held. While the security situation has improved since these groups’ attacks on Bangui were repulsed in January, the prolonged closure of the trade corridor with Cameroon had a substantial economic and fiscal impact, significantly affecting the growth prospects for this year and the cash position of the government. The government’s relations with development partners have deteriorated causing delays in grants disbursements. The number of Covid-19 cases and deaths temporarily increased in the Spring but has returned to a very low level. The three-year ECF arrangement approved in December 2019 is off track, with most performance criteria and structural benchmarks missed prior to the intensification of the domestic conflict, and the third review has not been completed.
February 4, 2022
Pakistan: 2021 Article IV Consultation, Sixth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, and Requests for Waivers of Applicability and Nonobservance of Performance Criteria and Rephasing of Access-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Pakistan
Description: Economic activity has rebounded strongly on the back of waning COVID-19 infections and expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. However, strong import growth—fueled by the macroeconomic policy mix, higher international commodity prices, and credit growth—have led to a marked deterioration of the external position. The current account deficit has widened, the rupee depreciated markedly, and inflation remains persistently high.
January 31, 2022
Finland: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Finland
Description: With strong policy support, Finland suffered a relatively mild economic contraction in 2020 followed by a swift recovery in 2021. Medium-term growth prospects are less strong, due to adverse demographics and low productivity growth—trends that precede the pandemic. Public debt has increased due to pandemic-related support and will remain on a rising trajectory in the medium term, largely reflecting permanent spending increases.
January 28, 2022
Republic of North Macedonia: Central Bank Transparency Code Review
Description: The National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia (NBRNM) is implementing advanced transparency practices. The long-standing commitment to transparency noted by a number of stakeholders and forcefully re-affirmed in the recent period is well anchored in the law, and it has been designated by the NBRNM as a strategic objective to fulfill its mandate. This policy has earned the NBRNM noteworthy trust from stakeholders met by the mission, and it has paid significant dividends in terms of anchoring its autonomy and ensuring policy effectiveness.
January 28, 2022
El Salvador: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for El Salvador
Description: The pandemic interrupted ten years of growth, but El Salvador is rebounding quickly. Robust external demand, resilient remittances, and a sound management of the pandemic—with the help of a disbursement under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) (SDR287.2 million or US$389 million) approved in April 2020—are supporting a strong recovery. Persistent fiscal deficits and high debt service are leading to large and increasing gross fiscal financing needs.
January 28, 2022
People’s Republic of China: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the People’s Republic of China
Description: China’s recovery is well advanced—but it lacks balance and momentum has slowed, reflecting the rapid withdrawal of fiscal support, lagging consumption amid recurrent COVID-19 outbreaks despite a successful vaccination campaign, and slowing real estate investment following policy efforts to reduce leverage in the property sector. Regulatory measures targeting the technology sector, intended to enhance competition, consumer privacy, and data governance, have increased policy uncertainty. China’s climate strategy has begun to take shape with the release of detailed action plans. Productivity growth is declining as decoupling pressures are increasing, while a stalling of key structural reforms and rebalancing are delaying the transition to “high-quality”—balanced, inclusive and green—growth.
January 27, 2022
Czech Republic: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Supplementary Information; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Czech Republic
Description: The Czech Republic entered the pandemic on a strong economic footing. Amid another surge in virus infections, the outlook is for a continued rebound in activity. However, the risks are tilted to the downside. Inflation remained marginally above the upper tolerance band in 2020 and increased substantially in late 2021. Pressures in the labor market remain. Macrofinancial vulnerabilities persist as house price growth has reached record highs amid significant risk-taking by lenders.
January 27, 2022
Nepal: Request for an Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility -Press Release; Staff Report; Debt Sustainability Analysis; Staff Supplement; Statement by the Executive Director for Nepal
Description: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Nepal’s economy. Tourist arrivals collapsed, domestic activity plummeted, and remittances have been volatile. As a result, balance of payments and fiscal financing gaps emerged. After growth was lower than expected in 2019/20, a gradual resumption in economic activity and a corresponding surge in imports and related tax receipts led to higher growth and improved fiscal outturns in 2020/21. However, important fiscal and external financing needs remain to support the COVID-19 response, facilitate a continued recovery, and maintain a comfortable level of reserves.
January 26, 2022
France: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for France
Description: A strong economic recovery is underway in France, bolstered by progress on vaccination, strong fiscal support and solid private sector led investment. Employment has recovered to above pre-crisis levels and unemployment is virtually stable. Inflation is increasing, mainly driven by a rise in energy prices but also due to supply-chain disruptions. The public deficit and debt ratio surged in 2020, reflecting the large amount of emergency support deployed and the drop in activity.