IMF Survey Magazine: Countries & Regions

IMFSurvey Magazine: Countries & Regions

A carpet shop, Tunisia. Economic program aims at fostering private sector development and inclusive growth (photo: Terry Harris/Stock Connection USA /Newscom)

IMF Loan Aims to Help Tunisia Boost Growth, Protect Poor

June 17, 2013

IMF Mission Chief for Tunisia Amine Mati explains the underlying reasons for the recent loan and the main ingredients of the government’s economic reform program.

Tunisia and the IMF
Press release

Read the report
Lagarde’s blog on Tunisia

Ease Off Spending Cuts to Boost U.S. Recovery

June 14, 2013
The United States could spur growth by adopting a more balanced and gradual pace of fiscal consolidation, especially at a time when monetary policy has limited room to support the recovery further, the International Monetary Fund said after wrapping up its annual review of the world’s largest economy.

Greece Makes Progress, But More Effort Needed to Restore Growth

June 05, 2013
Greece has made substantial progress in strengthening its fiscal position and increasing its competitiveness, but it still needs to plough on with structural reforms to boost growth and generate jobs, says the IMF’s mission chief for Greece.

Economic Growth Moderates Across Middle East

May 21, 2013
Differences in economic growth across the Middle East and North Africa are expected to narrow in 2013, though economic conditions in the oil exporters and importers still differ, says the IMF in its latest regional outlook, which predicts growth at about 3.1 percent this year.

IMF Loan to Stabilize Cyprus’s Financial System, Restore Growth

May 17, 2013
The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board approved a €1 billion ($1.33 billion) loan over three years to help the island nation of Cyprus, a member of the European Union, to stabilize its financial sector and set public finances on a sustainable path.

IMF Assesses New Era of Monetary Policy

May 16, 2013
Several years of exceptionally low interest rates and bond buying by some advanced economy central banks have reduced the risk of deflation, stabilized the financial system, and calmed financial markets, but these unconventional policies also have potential negative side effects.

Sub-Saharan Africa Builds Momentum in Multi-speed World

May 10, 2013
With a gradually improving outlook for the global economy, growth in sub-Saharan Africa is set to strengthen, the IMF’s latest forecast for the region says. The near-term outlook is broadly positive because most factors supporting economic activity recently remain in place.

IMF Loan to Help Jamaica Cope With Growth and Debt Challenges

May 01, 2013
The IMF’s Executive Board approved a 48-month, $932 million Extended Arrangement for Jamaica. The program will help create the conditions for sustained growth through a significant improvement in the fiscal and debt positions and in competitiveness.

Mideast Issues High on IMF Agenda

April 26, 2013
The challenges facing Arab countries in transition —Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen—were a focal point for policymakers during the 2013 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington last week.

Latin America: With Economy Humming, Good Time to Pursue Reforms

April 19, 2013
With many of the region’s economies doing well, policymakers in Latin America should take advantage of the current favorable economic conditions to lay the foundations for strong and sustainable growth, said Alejandro Werner, head of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department.

Panama: Growth to Remain Buoyant

March 28, 2013
With average annual growth rates of 8.5 percent, Panama’s per capita GDP has more than doubled over the past decade. This impressive growth performance has been driven by a steady rise in public and private investment in a stable economic environment buttressed by prudent policies.

IMF Approves $15 Million Loan to Boost Mali’s Recovery

June 10, 2013
The IMF’s Executive Board approves a $15 million interest-free emergency loan for Mali to back policies aimed at macroeconomic stability and assisting economic recovery. The loan is under the IMF’s concessional window for countries that need rapid support after economic disruptions.

U.K. Should Restore Growth, Rebalance Economy

May 22, 2013
The United Kingdom could boost growth by bringing forward measures already included in its fiscal plan, such as spending on infrastructure and job skills, the IMF said as it wrapped up its annual check of Europe’s third largest economy.

Conference Lays Out Roadmap for Caucasus, Central Asia

May 21, 2013
Countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia should build on progress made over the past two decades and carry out significant structural reforms to lay the foundation for growth, participants at a conference said.

IMF Helps Promote Understanding of Capital Flows

May 17, 2013
In a bid to support greater understanding of capital flows among government officials in Asia, the International Monetary Fund’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific organized a high-level seminar with Hitotsubashi University.

Productivity Is Key to Growth in Small Mid-income Countries

May 14, 2013
Africa’s small middle-income countries must boost the contribution of productivity to growth, since they can no longer rely on capital deepening as a growth driver, a Washington conference hears. Better productivity will also make these countries globally competitive.

Latin American Growth to Edge Higher in 2013

May 06, 2013
Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is set to pick up from 3 percent in 2012 to 3½ percent in 2013, supported by stronger external demand, favorable financing conditions, and the effects of earlier policy easing in some countries, the IMF said.

Asia Faces Shifting Risks, New Foundations for Growth

April 29, 2013
After a year of subdued economic performance, growth in Asia is set to pick up this year driven largely by continued robust domestic demand, says the IMF in its latest Regional Economic Outlook, which predicts growth will reach about 5¾ percent in 2013.

Africa Enjoying Dynamic Growth but Challenges Remain

April 20, 2013
African countries are focusing on improving their infrastructure and tackling unemployment to maintain their dynamic growth, said African finance ministers during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.

Lack of Growth Hampers Hungary’s Economy

March 29, 2013
Hungary managed to navigate a challenging financial year and maintained economic stability in 2012, but the economy slipped into its second recession in four years and GDP declined by 1.7 percent, the IMF said in its latest annual check-up of the country’s economic health.

Investing in Latin America’s Future

March 25, 2013
Economic growth in Latin America is expected to remain strong in 2013, but the region needs more growth-enhancing and employment-generating policies to reduce poverty and income inequality, said Alejandro Werner, the IMF’s new Director of the Western Hemisphere Department.

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