International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Completes 2019 Article IV Mission to Botswana

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Mr. Papa N’Diaye, visited Gaborone during November 13-27 to hold discussions for the 2019 Article IV Consultation with Botswana

Growth is expected to slow to about 3½ percent in 2019, due to weaknesses in the diamond market, a severe drought, and slower growth in neighboring countries. In 2020, it is expected to rise to 4.2 percent as the diamond market normalizes and copper production comes into stream; Fiscal consolidation…

MEDIA ADVISORY: Release of the IMF Departmental Paper on Scaling up Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprise in the Middle East and North Africa

Discussions will focus on how small and medium-sized enterprise financial inclusion is at the core of the economic diversification, growth, and job creation challenges many countries are facing

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will launch its departmental paper entitled Scaling up Access to Finance for SMEs in MENA in a seminar which will take placeat the American University in Cairo, Tahrir campus. The Event is co-hosted by the American University in Cairo, the Economic Research Forum, and the IMF.  Discussions will…

Inclusive Growth and Job Creation in Egypt

Remarks to the Government of Egypt-IMF Conference: IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton

Thank you for Minister El-Garhy for your kind introduction. I am very happy to be in Cairo, and honored to see that we are joined this evening by such a distinguished group. I would like to thank the Government of Egypt for agreeing to organize this conference with the IMF.…

IMF Launches Japan-Funded Project to Improve External Sector Statistics in Central and West African Countries

Representatives of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) also participated in the workshop.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched on August 29, 2016 a three-year capacity development project to improve the external sector statistics in Central and West Africa. Introduced at the African Training Institute (ATI) in Mauritius, this project has been made possible by the generous support of the Government of Japan.…

IMF Executive Board Concludes Annual Discussions on CEMAC Countries’ Common Policies

Growth is projected to be 1.9 percent in 2016, as oil production and investment remain sluggish

On July 13, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the annual discussions on Common Policies and Challenges of Member Countries with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).[1] CEMAC growth was subdued in 2015. It slowed to 1.6 percent, from 4.9 percent in 2014, because of reduced public investment and lower oil…

Bridging South Africa’s Economic Divide

David Lipton / Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg

Thank you very much for your kind introduction and the warm welcome from the Witwatersrand community. It is a pleasure to be back in South Africa. Let me begin with a tribute to South Africa’s achievements. This country offers an extraordinary legacy of freedom and reason that is a model…

IMF Staff Completes 2016 Article IV Mission to South Africa

An International Monetary Fund mission team led by Ms. Laura Papi visited Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town from April 18 to May 4, to conduct the 2016 Article IV Consultation discussions with South Africa. At the conclusion of the visit, Ms. Papi made the following statement: “South Africa faces a…

African Consultative Group Meeting: Statement by the Chairman of the African Caucus and the Managing Director of the IMF

Mr. Abdoulaye Bio-Tchané, Chairman of the African Caucus, and Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), co-chaired the African Consultative Group meeting today at the IMF Headquarters. They issued the following statement after the conclusion of the Group’s meeting in Washington.[1]  “We had very productive discussions on Africa’s…

IMF Staff Holds Combined 2016 Article IV Consultation and Fifth ECF Review Mission to Sierra Leone

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by John Wakeman-Linn visited Freetown during March 15–29, 2016 to conduct the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and hold the 2016 Article IV consultation discussions.1 At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Wakeman-Linn issued the following statement: “Sierra Leone’s economy…

IMF, Ghana and DFID Highlight the Value of Data for Better Economic Policies in Africa

One of the largest regional conferences on the importance of data for better macroeconomic policies was concluded today in Accra, Ghana. Organized by the Government of Ghana, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the conference brought together policymakers from over forty African…