Country Reports
2023
December 21, 2023
Central African Economic and Monetary Community: Common Policies of Member Countries, and Common Policies in Support of Member Countries Reform Programs-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director
Description: The CEMAC’s recovery gained momentum in 2022, supported by higher hydrocarbon prices. The external position strengthened, with a rapid foreign reserve build-up, though still below adequate levels. The recent weakening in external buffers will require more forceful action to tighten liquidity conditions, greater compliance of member countries with foreign exchange regulations and stronger fiscal discipline. Underlying non-oil fiscal positions, however, also deteriorated, stressing the need for accelerating structural reforms, addressing recent fiscal slippages, and bringing polices back in line with Fund-supported program objectives and staff advice. This will be critical to strengthen the region’s resilience to hydrocarbon prices volatility, financial instability, entrenched inflation, tighter financial conditions, food insecurity, domestic conflicts and insecurity, and climate-related events.
December 20, 2023
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Fifth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, Requests for Modification of Quantitative Performance Criteria, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Description: Despite the continuing impact of the armed conflict in the East on the security and humanitarian situation, and approaching elections scheduled on December 20, 2023, the authorities remain committed to preserve program’s objectives, including by limiting macroeconomic slippages and continuing implementation of the economic reform program.
December 20, 2023
Rwanda: Technical Assistance Report-Expanding the Nowcasting Toolbox at the National Bank of Rwanda
Description: In response to a request from the National Bank of Rwanda and in accordance with the AFE workplan, a virtual technical assistance (TA) mission on Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) took place during December 12–21, 2022. The objectives of the mission were twofold: (i) to further strengthen the nowcasting framework for GDP and CPI inflation, and (ii) to initiate the work on developing a simple, efficient, and robust process for forecasting the external variables for the Quarterly Projection Model (QPM). The new CPI nowcasting system now includes the monthly forecasts of ten subgroups of the core CPI inflation, as well as two subgroups of food inflation, enabling the assessment of the key drivers of inflation and the nature of inflation shocks. Similarly, the new GDP nowcasting system covers production in different sectors and significantly improves the forecasting results.
December 20, 2023
Barbados: 2023 Article IV Consultation and Second Reviews Under the Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility and Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Barbados
Description: The authorities are implementing their updated Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (BERT 2022) and their ambitious climate policy agenda. Barbados has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent shocks well, amid continued macroeconomic stability. The economy has recovered strongly, driven by a rebound in tourism. The authorities are placing renewed focus on structural reforms with the aim of achieving inclusive and sustainable growth and increasing resilience to climate change while maintaining debt sustainability and social cohesion. Ample international reserves support the exchange rate peg.
December 20, 2023
Zambia: Second Review Under the Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for a Waiver of Nonobservance of a Quantitative Performance Criterion, Modifications of the Monetary Policy Consultation Clause and of Quantitative Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Zambia
Description: Despite considerable challenges, the Zambian economy is showing resilience driven by non-mining and non-agricultural growth. The government continues to work with its external creditors to restructure its debt in line with program parameters. External and domestic conditions have put pressure on the external balance and the exchange rate, raising inflation. Fiscal consolidation will remain a pivotal focus to restore debt sustainability. Concurrently, economic policies will be directed toward increasing and safeguarding essential social spending, preserving financial stability, and intensifying structural and governance reforms to unlock Zambia's growth potential.
December 20, 2023
Somalia: Staff Report for the Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Arrangement and Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Somalia
Description: Economic activity is recovering as rains resumed in 2023, and the authorities continue to advance their efforts to rebuild the economy and institutions. However, despite significant progress achieved, Somalia remains fragile, facing challenges from climate shocks, an unsettled security situation as the government advances against Al-Shabab amid the withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission, and lack of political consensus among all Federal Member States that affects advancement of the federalism agenda.
December 19, 2023
Republic of Moldova: Staff Report for 2023 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Reviews Under the Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility Arrangements, Request for Extension and Rephasing of the Arrangements, and Request for an Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Republic of Moldova
Description: The ECF/EFF-supported program has helped Moldova navigate headwinds, including from spillovers from Russia’s war in Ukraine—energy crisis and record-high inflation—and a drought, while catalyzing additional external financing. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022. Strong reform momentum and growthenhancing and climate-resilient investments are needed to foster long-term, sustainable development and convergence toward EU income levels.
December 19, 2023
Botswana: Technical Assistance Report-National Accounts Mission
Description: A technical assistance (TA) mission was conducted by IMF’s Regional Technical Assistance Center for Southern Africa (AFS) during November 2023 to assist Statistics Botswana (SB) in reviewing and finalizing the questionnaires to be used in the Census of Economic Establishments (CEE), sample design and IT processing system in preparation for the rebasing of the national accounts. The draft CEE questionnaires finalized during the previous mission in March 2023, have been tested. The IT system specifications were reviewed, and several improvements were incorporated. The mission and team commenced development of the data collection and data processing manuals. SB are planning to use the tax list to identify the sample frame for this rebase. The deflator issues raised by the IMF country team were discussed.