International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Completes Staff Visit Mission for São Tomé and Príncipe

The mission team discussed with the new government its priorities and vision for economic development

A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Xiangming Li visited São Tomé and Príncipe during January 23-31, 2019. At the end of the visit, Ms. Li issued the following statement: “The mission team discussed with the new government its priorities and vision for economic development, as…

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…

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 for Sierra Leone

On July 1, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2016 Article IV consultation1 with Sierra Leone. After a dozen years of strong growth, benefiting from both improved polices and booming commodity prices, Sierra Leone has been hit by twin shocks since mid-2014: the Ebola…

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with South Africa

On July 1, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with South Africa. South Africa has made impressive economic and social progress in the past two decades. Yet, deep-rooted structural problems—infrastructure bottlenecks, skill mismatches, and harmful insider-outsider dynamics—are holding back growth and exacerbating…

IMF Executive Board Completes Seventh and Eighth Reviews under Malawi’s ECF Arrangement and Approves US$ 76.8 Million Disbursement

IMF Executive Board Completes Seventh and Eighth Reviews under Malawi’s ECF Arrangement and Approves US$ 76.8 Million Disbursement The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the seventh and eighth reviews of Malawi’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement1. The…

IMF Mission Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Madagascar on an Extended Credit Facility Arrangement

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Marshall Mills, visited Antananarivo during May 25–June 8, 2016, to review the results of the Staff Monitored Program (SMP)1 and hold discussions on a three-year economic and financial program for Madagascar, to be supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF)2 arrangement. At the…

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Zimbabwe and Third Review Under the Staff Monitored Program

On May 2, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s economic difficulties have deepened. Drought, erratic rains, and increasing temperatures, have reduced agricultural output and disrupted hydropower production and water supplies. Economic activity is severely constrained by tight liquidity conditions…

IMF Calls for a Policy Reset to Secure Sub-Saharan Africa’s Medium-Term Growth

After an extended period of strong economic growth, sub-Saharan Africa is set to experience a second difficult year as the region is hit by multiple shocks, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today. According to its April 2016 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, Time for a Policy Reset, growth in…

IMF Staff Holds Review Mission to Guinea-Bissau

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Felix Fischer visited Bissau during March 28–April 7, 2016 to conduct the combined first and second reviews under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.[1] Guinea Bissau’s three-year ECF arrangement for SDR 17.04 million (about US$23.9 million or 120 percent of quota) was…