Press Release No. 15/144

Press Release: IMF’s Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center Concludes Workshop on the “Sixth Edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual ( BPM6 )”

March 26, 2015

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) held a workshop on the “Sixth Edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6)” in Beirut, Lebanon from March 24-26, 2015. The workshop discussed in depth the major changes brought by the BPM6 and the tools to compile the balance of payments and international investment position (IIP) statistics as set forth in the BPM6 and the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Compilation Guide (BPM6CG). The workshop also discussed the preparation and reporting of the balance of payments and IIP statistics according to BPM6 format.

Discussions were active and involved case studies, country presentations, and focused on the balance of payments and IIP statistics conversion from the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, fifth edition (BPM5) to BPM6. In addition, issues, challenges, and plans to implement the BPM6 recommendations in the 12 countries attending the workshop were discussed. In a final wrap-up session, participants were given the opportunity to identify potential areas for future METAC technical assistance support.

Officials from central banks involved in the compilation of balance of payments and international investment position statistics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region attended the workshop. In total, 27 participants from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza and Yemen attended the workshop.

Quick links:

Press Release No. 04/224: Inauguration of the Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC)

Factsheet: IMF Technical Assistance

Factsheet: IMF Regional Technical Assistance Centers