Country Reports
2024
July 15, 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2024 Article IV Consultation, Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, Request for a Waiver of Nonobservance of Quantitative Performance Criterion, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Democratic Republic of the Congo
Description: President Félix Tshisekedi was re-elected in December 2023 and a new Prime Minister was appointed on April 1, 2024, and the government on May 28. Meanwhile, the security situation in the East is deteriorating, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions of people and amplifying the burden on public finances.
July 15, 2024
Nepal: Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Nepal
Description: Subdued economic activity has helped strengthen the external position and ease inflation. Growth is expected to rebound to 4.9 percent in FY2024/25, supported by further expansion in hydropower generation and a higher execution rate of public capital expenditure. Inflation is expected to remain within the authorities’ target ceiling of 5.5 percent. Non-performing loans have risen, bank profitability has weakened, and the financial health of savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) has deteriorated.
July 12, 2024
France: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for France
Description: A strong and timely policy response helped cushion the impact of the COVID19 pandemic and the energy crisis resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Despite a recovery slowdown in 2023, the French economy has remained relatively resilient in the face of financial tightening and weaker euro area external demand. Nevertheless, the crisis response and slower-than-expected recovery have weighed on public finances, with a sizable fiscal underperformance in 2023 reducing fiscal space at a time of rising investment needs for the green and digital transformation. While financial conditions started improving in early 2024, market pressures on sovereign spreads and stock markets rose in early June following the European elections amid political uncertainty. Labor market performance has remained robust, although labor productivity remains below its pre-COVID trend. Against this backdrop, the French authorities have appropriately shifted their focus towards rebuilding buffers and achieving a sustainable modernization of the economy. The reforms of the pension and unemployment benefit systems have already started to yield results. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 30 and July 7. The Staff Report was completed on June 17.
July 12, 2024
The Gambia: First Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, Request for Modification of a Performance Criterion, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for The Gambia
Description: The Gambian authorities continue democratic and justice reforms. Economic recovery is strengthening while inflation is progressively decelerating albeit remaining high. The 2023 fiscal outturns reflected good revenue performance, but capital spending pressures weighed on the fiscal balance. Following the adoption of a new foreign exchange policy, the wedge between the official and parallel market exchange rates has largely closed. Structural reforms are advancing. The economic outlook is subject to large downside risks, particularly owing to global geopolitical tensions.
July 12, 2024
Republic of Mozambique: 2024 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Modifications of Quantitative Performance Criteria, Waiver of Nonobservance of Quantitative Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Mozambique
Description: Economic growth is tepid, with tight financial conditions continuing to act as a drag on activity. Inflation pressures have declined sharply reflecting lower international fuel and food prices and subdued domestic demand. About 60 percent of the population is below the poverty line. A fiscal correction is ongoing, albeit at a slower pace than planned, following the fiscal slippages from the single salary scale reform adopted in 2022. The security situation in the north remains fragile and general elections are scheduled for October 9, 2024.
July 11, 2024
Republic of Moldova: Fifth Reviews Under the Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility Arrangements, First Review Under the Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, and Request for Modification of a Performance Criterion-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Moldova
Description: Moldova’s economic recovery from the multiple shocks is proceeding, albeit at a slower pace than expected. Progress towards EU accession continues. Presidential elections are scheduled in October, to be combined with a referendum on EU accession.