Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation and Fourth Review Under the ECF Arrangement with Tajikistan

May 25, 2011

Public Information Notices (PINs) form part of the IMF's efforts to promote transparency of the IMF's views and analysis of economic developments and policies. With the consent of the country (or countries) concerned, PINs are issued after Executive Board discussions of Article IV consultations with member countries, of its surveillance of developments at the regional level, of post-program monitoring, and of ex post assessments of member countries with longer-term program engagements. PINs are also issued after Executive Board discussions of general policy matters, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Board in a particular case.

Public Information Notice (PIN) No. 11/60
May 25, 2011

On May 11, 2011, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2011 Article IV consultation and fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement with Tajikistan.1

Background

Tajikistan has begun to recover from the global crisis, which negatively affected inward remittances, exports of such key products as aluminum and cotton, and foreign direct investment. In 2010, real GDP growth reached 6.5 percent, up from 3.9 percent in 2009, despite rail traffic disruptions in the first half of the year. Stronger hydroelectricity production helped to boost industrial activity, while trade and services benefited from a recovery of remittances in line with the economic rebound in Russia. However, in response to increased international food and fuel prices in the second half of the year, headline inflation accelerated to 9.8 percent by end-2010. Despite the pick-up in remittances, which are normally associated with higher imports, the trade balance improved and the external current account shifted to a surplus of 2.2 percent of GDP in 2010, compared with an average 5 percent deficit during 2005–09. The lagged impact of real exchange rate depreciation, disruptions to rail transit in the first part of 2010, and a slowdown in external loan disbursements for the public investment program underpinned this shift. The overall balance of payments remained positive.

The government achieved an overall fiscal deficit (excluding externally financed investment) of 0.4 percent of GDP, compared with a budgeted deficit of 1 percent of GDP, mainly on account of lower than projected current spending, particularly on wages. The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) continued targeting reserve money growth, while limiting interventions in the foreign exchange market to smoothing excess volatility and building reserves. At end-2010, gross international reserves reached US$447 million, equivalent to 1.4 month of imports. However, liquidity support from the NBT to commercial banks started to rise sharply in the second half of 2010 and into 2011–partly to finance imports of food and fuel products for strategic reserves—increasing the risk of compromising monetary policy targets going forward and reflecting continued weaknesses in the banking sector.

Economic prospects for 2011 are good, but not without risks. Growth is projected to reach at least 5.8 percent, in line with the continued growth of key regional partners. Prospects for cotton are also relatively good given high international prices for this commodity. However, continued increases in future food and energy prices are likely to fuel inflation and aggravate poverty. Further disruptions in rail traffic—one of the key import and export arteries for landlocked Tajikistan—could weigh on growth. Remaining vulnerabilities in the financial and state enterprise sectors could also pose a quasi-fiscal risk and be a drag on private sector growth.

Tajikistan’s financial system remains vulnerable, despite recent improvements in some financial soundness indicators. Although private sector credit (excluding activities related to the write-off of loans held by Kredit Invest as part of the cotton sector debt resolution) recovered through the course of the year and classified loans have recently declined, the extent to which this reflects a lasting improvement is uncertain. Profitability turned positive in the fourth quarter, but remains minimal. Recent gains appear fragile, and linked to restructuring of assets rather than an underlying improvement in profitability.

Executive Board Assessment

Executive Directors considered that Tajikistan’s economic performance has been generally satisfactory and that economic growth is gaining momentum. Directors agreed that the most pressing challenge for policymakers is to support the recovery, while addressing risks to macroeconomic stability from rising commodity prices and worsening terms of trade. They also noted that, over the medium term, sustained economic growth and poverty reduction hinge on additional efforts to strengthen the fiscal position, provide buffers against shocks, and promote market oriented reforms.

Directors commended the authorities for the commitment to fiscal discipline shown under the program and considered this year’s fiscal plans appropriate. They noted, however, the importance of budgetary consolidation over the medium term to safeguard debt sustainability. Along the fiscal adjustment path, greater room for needed social and infrastructure spending calls for revenue-enhancing measures and a better balance between current and capital expenditure.

Directors agreed that monetary policymakers should address emerging inflation risks without undermining the recovery. Curbing liquidity lending by the central bank would be an important step in the right direction. Directors also encouraged the authorities to develop over the medium term a framework for direct cash support to the poor as a more targeted response to surges in international commodity prices and imported inflation.

Directors observed that, despite some improvement in financial indicators, the banking system remains fragile and financial intermediation limited. They cautioned that fiscal liabilities might emerge if weaknesses at banks are not addressed. In this regard, Directors urged the authorities to press ahead with their strategy to tackle these vulnerabilities and reduce financial sector dependence on direct liquidity support.

Directors agreed that structural reforms, including to improve governance and the business environment, should remain a top policy priority. They welcomed progress in establishing a framework for agricultural financing, and encouraged the authorities to continue cooperating with donors to push these reforms forward. Directors also welcomed plans to improve the business climate through a reform of the tax regime and improved transparency and accountability at state-owned enterprises.


Republic of Tajikistan: Selected Economic Indicators, 2007–11
 
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
  Act. Act. Act. Act. Proj.
 

Production and prices

(Annual change in percent)

  Real GDP

7.8 7.9 3.9 6.5 5.8

  CPI inflation (period average)

13.2 20.4 6.5 6.5 13.9

General Government

(In percent of GDP)

  Total Revenue and grants

22.5 22.1 23.4 23.2 22.8

    Of which: grants

2.0 1.6 3.4 2.3 2.1

  Expenditure and net lending

27.7 27.6 28.8 26.9 28.2

    Of which: social expenditure 1/

7.5 7.3 9.0 9.0 9.2

    Of which: capital expenditure 2/

14.1 13.6 13.3 10.9 12.2

  Overall balance

         

    Excluding externally financed investment

2.5 1.4 -0.5 -0.4 -1.0

    Including externally financed investment

-5.3 -5.5 -5.4 -3.7 -5.4

Monetary Indicators

(Annual change in percent, unless otherwise indicated)

  Broad money

78.8 6.3 39.6 26.2 22.1

Velocity of broad money (end-of-period)

4.7 5.8 5.1 4.9 5.0

External sector

(In millions of U.S. dollar, unless otherwise indicated)

Exports of goods and services

767 865 755 970 1,250

Imports of goods and services

2,555 3,703 2,714 2,940 3,851

Current account balance

-319 -392 -295 123 -253

In percent of GDP

-8.6 -7.6 -5.9 2.2 -3.7

Gross official reserves 3/

85 150 278 447 557

In months of next year's imports 4/

0.3 0.7 1.2 1.4 1.6
 

Sources: Tajik authorities; and IMF staff projections.

1/ Includes current and capital spending on social protection, education and health.

2/ Includes domestically and externally financed investments.

3/ Gross reserves are net of the pledged deposits of the NBT; includes SDR 81.2 million allocation in Q3 2009.

4/ Excludes electricity, which is on barter basis, and imports for projects financed with loans from China.

Republic of Tajikistan: Selected Economic Indicators, 2007–11
 
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
  Act. Act. Act. Act. Proj.
 

Production and prices

(Annual change in percent)

  Real GDP

7.8 7.9 3.9 6.5 5.8

  CPI inflation (period average)

13.2 20.4 6.5 6.5 13.9

General Government

(In percent of GDP)

  Total Revenue and grants

22.5 22.1 23.4 23.2 22.8

    Of which: grants

2.0 1.6 3.4 2.3 2.1

  Expenditure and net lending

27.7 27.6 28.8 26.9 28.2

    Of which: social expenditure 1/

7.5 7.3 9.0 9.0 9.2

    Of which: capital expenditure 2/

14.1 13.6 13.3 10.9 12.2

  Overall balance

         

    Excluding externally financed investment

2.5 1.4 -0.5 -0.4 -1.0

    Including externally financed investment

-5.3 -5.5 -5.4 -3.7 -5.4

Monetary Indicators

(Annual change in percent, unless otherwise indicated)

  Broad money

78.8 6.3 39.6 26.2 22.1

Velocity of broad money (end-of-period)

4.7 5.8 5.1 4.9 5.0

External sector

(In millions of U.S. dollar, unless otherwise indicated)

Exports of goods and services

767 865 755 970 1,250

Imports of goods and services

2,555 3,703 2,714 2,940 3,851

Current account balance

-319 -392 -295 123 -253

In percent of GDP

-8.6 -7.6 -5.9 2.2 -3.7

Gross official reserves 3/

85 150 278 447 557

In months of next year's imports 4/

0.3 0.7 1.2 1.4 1.6
 

Sources: Tajik authorities; and IMF staff projections.

1/ Includes current and capital spending on social protection, education and health.

2/ Includes domestically and externally financed investments.

3/ Gross reserves are net of the pledged deposits of the NBT; includes SDR 81.2 million allocation in Q3 2009.

4/ Excludes electricity, which is on barter basis, and imports for projects financed with loans from China.


1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summing up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.




IMF EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Public Affairs    Media Relations
E-mail: publicaffairs@imf.org E-mail: media@imf.org
Fax: 202-623-6220 Phone: 202-623-7100