IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Kenya

Kenya’s economy has continued to perform well, with real GDP growth reaching 5.9 percent in the first three quarters of 2016, up from 5.6 percent in 2015

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this…

IMF Staff Completes 2016 Article IV Mission to the Republic of Congo

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Dalia Hakura, Mission Chief for the Republic of Congo, visited Brazzaville during October 25-November 7, 2016 to conduct discussions for the 2016 Article IV review of the Congolese economy. Discussions focused on assessing the macroeconomic impact of the sharp decline in oil…

IMF Staff Holds Review Mission to Tanzania

The Bank of Tanzania’s foreign exchange reserves have strengthened in recent months

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mauricio Villafuerte, visited Tanzania from October 18–28, 2016 and held discussions with the authorities on the fifth review under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) program that was approved on July 16, 2014.[1] At the end of the mission Mr. Villafuerte…

IMF Staff Completes Review Discussions with Guinea-Bissau

Following a staff visit to Bissau, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Felix Fischer continued discussions with the Guinea-Bissau authorities in Washington during the 2016 Annual Meetings on the set of policies needed to complete the first and second reviews of Guinea Bissau’s IMF-supported program under the Extended…

IMF Staff Completes Review Mission to Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: IMF Staff Completes Review Mission to Sierra Leone

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by John Wakeman-Linn visited Freetown during September 14-27, 2016 to conduct the sixth and final review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).[1] At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Wakeman-Linn issued the following statement: “Sierra Leone’s economic reforms over the last three years…

IMF Statement on Mozambique

The Managing Director welcomed the initial steps being taken on the agreed reforms and policies

Mr. Gerry Rice, Director of Communications at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today: “The IMF’s Managing Director Christine Lagarde and Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi met today to discuss the economic challenges that the country is facing. The Managing Director welcomed the initial steps being taken on…

IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Egypt on a Three-Year US$12 Billion Extended Fund Facility

In response to a request from the Egyptian authorities, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Chris Jarvis visited Cairo from July 30 to August 11, 2016 to discuss support for the authorities’ economic reform program through IMF financial assistance

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this…

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 Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Liberia

On July 8, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Liberia. The Ebola epidemic and the fall in commodity prices revealed the vulnerabilities of Liberia’s economy. After barely positive growth in 2014, GDP was flat in 2015 mainly due to the…