Press Release: IMF Mission Statement at the Conclusion of a Visit to Georgia

July 7, 2008

Press Release No. 08/164

Ms. Ana Lucía Coronel, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief for Georgia, visited Tbilisi during June 30-July 4. She met with senior government officials and parliamentarians.

Ms. Coronel informed the Georgian authorities of the IMF's decision to downsize the local IMF office to two Georgian specialists and not to replace the current resident representative, Mr. Robert Christiansen who is retiring from the Fund on August 31. The decision to downsize the Georgia office is part of ongoing efforts to refocus the IMF, which includes reducing the number of headquarters-based staff and closing or downsizing about 20 Resident Representative Offices around the world. Ms. Coronel assured the authorities that despite this downsizing, the IMF will remain fully engaged with Georgia and its services to the country will not be reduced. The mission chief and the authorities agreed on mechanisms for maintaining close cooperation between the IMF and Georgia in support of Georgia's ongoing economic reform.

It was agreed that the next IMF mission, which is scheduled for September 2008, will conduct discussions for the Article IV consultation.

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