What's New Archive
Gender Inequality in the WAEMU
May 17, 2024
Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/016
Climate Change in the WAEMU
May 17, 2024
Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/015
Recent Challenges to the Conduct of Monetary Policy in the WAEMU
May 17, 2024
Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/013
Key Banking System Risks in the WAEMU
May 17, 2024
Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/014
Securing Fiscal Discipline and Credibility in WAEMU
May 17, 2024
Selected Issues Paper No. 2024/012
Transcript of IMF Press Briefing
May 16, 2024
Good morning, everyone, both to those of us here in person and also those joining us online. Welcome to this IMF Press Briefing. I am Julie Kozack, Director of Communications at the IMF. As usual, this briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the U.S. I will start with some announcements and then we'll move to your questions in person, on Webex, or through the Press Center.
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Mauritius
May 16, 2024
On May 15, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Mauritius.
Iraq: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Iraq
May 16, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/128
Iraq: Selected Issues
May 16, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/129
IMF Staff Completes 2024 Article IV Mission to Singapore
May 16, 2024
IMF Staff Completes 2024 Article IV Mission to Singapore
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Iraq
May 15, 2024
Domestic stability has improved since the new government took office in October 2022, facilitating the passage of Iraq’s first three-year budget, which entailed a large fiscal expansion starting in 2023. This supported the strong recovery in Iraq’s non-oil economy after a contraction in 2022, while Iraq was largely unaffected by the ongoing conflict in the region. Domestic inflation declined to 4 percent by end-2023, reflecting lower international food prices, the currency revaluation as of February 2023, and the normalization in trade finance. However, imbalances have worsened due to the large fiscal expansion and lower oil prices.
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with St. Kitts and Nevis
May 15, 2024
Despite a continued strong tourism performance, growth fell to 3.4 percent in 2023 (from 8.8 percent in 2022) due to delays in public and private sector investment projects. Higher food and oil prices and shipping costs pushed average inflation to 3.6 percent, which subsided at end-2023. The current account deficit narrowed to 5.4 percent of GDP in 2023 (from 10.9 percent in 2022) supported by the robust tourism recovery.
St. Kitts and Nevis: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report
May 15, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/126
St. Kitts and Nevis: Selected Issues
May 15, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/127
Use of SDRs in the Acquisition of Hybrid Capital Instruments of the Prescribed Holders
May 15, 2024
Policy Paper No. 2024/026
Belize: Selected Issues
May 15, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/125
Belize: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
May 15, 2024
Country Report No. 2024/124
Use of SDRs in the Acquisition of Hybrid Capital Instruments of the Prescribed Holders
May 15, 2024
Policy Paper No. 2024/026
Cross-Border Payments with Retail Central Bank Digital Currencies
May 15, 2024
Fintech Notes No 2024/002
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Belize
May 15, 2024
Real GDP growth and inflation moderated in 2023. After growing by 8.7 percent in 2022, real GDP grew by 4.7 percent in 2023, led by tourism, construction, retail and wholesale trade, transport, and business process outsourcing. Inflation declined from 6.3 percent in 2022 to 4.4 percent in 2023, driven by lower prices of transport and utilities, partly offset by higher food inflation. The fiscal position remained strong, but debt dynamics have become more challenging. The overall fiscal deficit widened due to a narrowing of the primary surplus and higher interest payments on the blue loan and other external debt. Consequently, after the acquisition of the Port of Belize and the settlement of outstanding litigations with a foreign investor, public debt declined slightly from 67 percent in 2022 to 66 percent of GDP in 2023.