IMF Executive Board Concludes 2017 Article IV Consultation with Maldives

November 16, 2017

On October 20, 2017, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation [1] with Maldives.

Maldives’ economic growth has been highly volatile, driven primarily by high-end tourism and construction. The economy grew by 3.9 percent in 2016 and continues to improve in 2017 on a recovery in tourism and a continued strength in construction but faces large and growing imbalances. The fiscal deficit widened in 2016 driven by lower-than-expected revenue and large arrears clearance despite unchanged current spending. Public debt as a share of GDP rose nearly 11.5 percentage points from 2014-16. Monetary policy remains accommodative and private sector credit has grown rapidly, led by the housing and construction. Headline inflation continued to decline in 2016 (period average) and is projected to remain low with some lift from the subsidy phase out. The current account deficit widened sharply to 19.6 percent of GDP in 2016, due to increased infrastructure-related imports, moderating tourism receipts, higher remittance outflows, and a large one-off court mandated payment.

The outlook is for a strengthening recovery in the near term, with low inflation, loose financial conditions, but with significant downside risks from a fragile fiscal and external position. Growth is projected to recover in 2017 and stabilize over the medium term, benefitting from the infrastructure scale up, continued recovery in Europe, and favorable short-term and long-term tourism trends. Both the fiscal and current account deficits are projected to gradually decline over the medium term, after widening in 2016, as infrastructure spending winds down. The main challenge remains one of balancing a surge in infrastructure investment that has the potential of transforming the economy against the continuing risks stemming from high and increasing public debt.

Executive Board Assessment [2]

Executive Directors welcomed that the Maldives economy has been improving supported by recovery in tourism and construction and that the medium-term outlook is positive. Directors noted, however, that the rapid buildup in debt, widening current account deficit, and low international reserves amid limited policy space pose difficulties. They emphasized that policy priorities should focus on balancing the large infrastructure investment, reducing fiscal and external deficits, building adequate reserves, and undertaking reforms to enhance longer-term growth potential.

Directors emphasized that decisive fiscal adjustment is needed to restore fiscal and debt sustainability and reduce external imbalances. They underscored that consolidation efforts should focus on implementing revenue measures, containing current spending, and prioritizing investment projects. Recognizing that increased infrastructure investment has the potential to transform the economy, they encouraged the authorities to carefully assess the risks of excessive debt. Directors welcomed the intention to introduce user fees for key infrastructure and the steps being taken to recover tax arrears. They highlighted that strengthening public financial management, including by developing an annual borrowing plan as part of the approved medium-term debt strategy, is critical for supporting fiscal sustainability. Directors encouraged the authorities to rely more on concessional financing.

Directors viewed the stabilized exchange rate arrangement as appropriate. They took note of the weakening external position and agreed that strong fiscal adjustment, combined with a tighter monetary stance and more flexibility in the pegged regime, could better support the peg and help build foreign reserves.

Directors noted that support from monetary and financial policies would be important to help stabilize the external position. They recommended a gradual tightening of the monetary stance so as not to impede credit in support of economic growth. Directors welcomed the authorities’ efforts towards fostering financial inclusion and improving the regulatory environment.

Directors recognized the continued efforts to increase investments to address climate change, reduce congestion, and lower costs for providing basic services given the geographical challenges. Structural reforms to expand investment in electricity generation, renewable energy, and waste management would support growth, energy sufficiency, and long-run environmental sustainability. Directors also encouraged integrating risk-reduction and disaster-response programs into the core budget and public investment planning to better address climate change adaptation. Efforts should also continue to improve the accuracy and timeliness of national statistics.

 

Table 1. Maldives: Selected Economic Indicators, 2014–22 (Baseline Scenario)

Population (in 1,000; 2015) 348

GDP per capita (in U.S. dollars; 2015): 11,544

Quota (in million SDRs, Feb 2016): 21.2

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Est.

Proj.

Output and prices

(Annual percentage change)

Real GDP

7.6

3.3

3.9

4.6

4.7

4.8

5.0

5.0

5.0

Inflation (end-of-period) 1/

1.2

1.2

1.8

2.1

2.2

2.2

2.4

2.4

2.6

Inflation (period average) 1/

2.5

1.4

0.8

2.5

2.1

2.2

2.4

2.4

2.5

GDP deflator

4.5

5.3

1.6

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.4

2.5

2.5

Central government finances

(In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

Revenue and grants

26.7

27.7

28.4

28.7

28.6

28.3

28.4

28.5

28.6

Expenditure and net lending

34.1

34.5

38.7

36.6

35.7

34.7

34.3

33.9

32.9

Overall balance

-7.4

-6.8

-10.3

-8.0

-7.1

-6.3

-6.0

-5.3

-4.3

Overall balance excl. grants

-7.7

-7.8

-10.6

-8.2

-7.4

-6.5

-6.2

-5.5

-4.4

Primary balance

-5.1

-4.6

-8.2

-5.8

-4.6

-3.3

-2.6

-1.9

-0.9

Current primary balance

-0.1

1.8

5.2

6.3

5.7

4.7

4.9

5.4

5.8

Public and publicly guaranteed debt

54.2

56.9

65.7

69.4

72.0

73.5

74.3

74.3

73.2

Monetary accounts

(Annual percentage change, unless otherwise indicated)

Broad money

14.7

12.3

-0.2

9.6

9.7

9.9

10.5

10.6

10.6

Domestic credit

4.7

15.7

19.5

7.1

5.2

5.3

7.1

7.8

7.8

Balance of payments

(In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

Current account

-3.2

-7.3

-19.6

-17.2

-17.0

-16.4

-14.3

-12.9

-10.3

Of which:

Exports

8.1

6.0

6.0

6.3

6.6

6.9

7.2

7.5

7.6

Imports

-53.1

-47.2

-49.5

-52.5

-53.8

-52.8

-51.2

-50.4

-47.4

Tourism receipts (in nonfactor services, net)

73.0

63.9

59.3

59.3

59.2

59.1

59.4

59.7

60.0

Income (net)

-9.6

-8.1

-8.6

-8.9

-9.2

-9.3

-9.5

-9.6

-9.7

Current transfers

-8.3

-8.6

-15.0

-8.5

-8.5

-8.5

-8.5

-8.5

-8.6

Capital and financial account (including e&o)

10.1

6.1

17.4

19.4

18.0

17.0

15.3

13.7

9.9

Of which:

General government, net

-0.5

-0.1

3.1

7.6

3.5

3.7

3.4

3.2

-0.5

Banks and other sectors, net

6.7

1.7

3.3

4.1

4.1

3.9

3.7

3.6

3.4

Overall balance

6.8

-1.2

-2.2

2.1

1.0

0.6

1.0

0.8

-0.4

Gross international reserves (in millions of US$; e.o.p.) 2/

615

546

468

564

614

645

703

751

724

In months of GNFS imports

2.7

2.4

1.8

1.9

1.9

1.9

2.0

2.0

1.9

Memorandum items:

GDP (in millions of rufiyaa)

56,867

61,869

65,310

69,648

74,349

79,488

85,446

91,932

98,913

GDP (in millions of U.S. dollars)

3,690

4,015

4,238

4,520

4,825

5,162

5,545

5,966

6,419

Tourism bednights (000')

7,290

6,977

7,138

7,460

7,795

8,154

8,602

9,076

9,575

Tourist arrivals (000')

1,205

1,234

1,286

1,356

1,417

1,483

1,564

1,650

1,741

Tourism bednights (% change)

3.3

-4.3

2.3

4.5

4.5

4.6

5.5

5.5

5.5

Tourist arrivals (% change)

7.1

2.4

4.2

5.5

4.5

4.6

5.5

5.5

5.5

Dollarization ratio (FC deposits in percent of broad money)3/

53.8

50.6

47.73/

Sources: Maldivian authorities; and preliminary IMF staff estimates and projections based on the 2017 Staff Visit.

1/ CPI-Male definition.

2/ MMA liabilities, include allocation of SDR 7.4 million, equivalent to US$11.7 million, made available in Q3 2009,

see http://www.imf.org/external/np/tre/sdr/proposal/2009/0709.htm. These are treated as long term liabilities of the MMA.

3/ Data for 2016 Jan-Nov.



[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.

[2] 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 summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm .

IMF Communications Department
MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Silvia Zucchini

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org