IMF Staff Concludes Staff Visit to Turkmenistan

November 14, 2019

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a Board discussion.
  • Turkmenistan continues to pursue an investment-led growth strategy underpinned by import substitution and export promotion policies, directed concessional lending, and related broad exchange controls on international transactions and payments.
  • Developing the private sector and diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbon exports requires stepping up reforms to ease administrative control, opening the economy to competition, and improving transparency.
  • Increasing healthcare and education spending and targeting it better toward achieving human development outcomes is essential for nurturing talent and creating opportunities for all citizens.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ms. Natalia Tamirisa visited Ashgabat during November 5-12, 2019 to assess recent developments and discuss economic and financial policy priorities with senior government officials, representatives of the business and financial sectors, and the diplomatic community.

At the end of the visit, Ms. Tamirisa issued the following statement:

“Economic growth continues to be driven by both the hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon sectors. External balances remain in surplus, buoyed by exchange controls in line with import substitution and export promotion objectives. Under current policies, economic growth is expected to moderate over the medium term as hydrocarbon production stabilizes. Risks are tilted to the downside and include lower-than-expected hydrocarbon prices and returns on past investment, rising external financing costs, and geopolitical factors.

“Significant overvaluation and foreign currency rationing are among the factors that weigh on private investment and competitiveness of nonhydrocarbon exports. Achieving sustainable economic growth requires improving the competitiveness and convertibility of the manat. Adjustment should be carefully sequenced to ensure macro-financial stability and supported by measures to protect the vulnerable.

“Reducing the footprint of the state and opening the economy to competition are important to promote economic efficiency and market development. Alongside, phasing out directed cheap credit would help steer financial resources to the most productive use and would help create a market-based, more efficient financial system. Prudential oversight should be strengthened in tandem to maintain financial stability.

“Steps to improve the efficiency of public spending are needed to increase its impact while saving public financial resources. Higher, and better targeted, spending on health and education is crucial to foster human development and improve inclusiveness. Stronger economic policy frameworks and transparency would help ensure sound decision-making and improve access to financing.

“The IMF team is grateful to the authorities and other stakeholders for their warm hospitality and insightful discussions. The team stands ready to support the authorities in their efforts to strengthen capacity, including in public finance and debt management, monetary and exchange rate operations, and national accounts, price and external statistics. The next Article IV Consultation mission is scheduled for March 2020.”


Turkmenistan: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2015–19

Est.

Est.

Est.

Est.

Proj.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Output and prices

(Annual percentage change)

Real GDP

6.5

6.2

6.5

6.2

6.3

Real hydrocarbon GDP

0.1

-4.8

1.7

5.4

5.7

Real nonhydrocarbon GDP

9.4

11.4

7.2

6.3

6.5

Consumer prices (end of period)

6.0

6.2

10.4

7.2

6.3

Consumer prices (period average)

7.4

3.6

8.0

13.3

5.1

Investment and savings

(In percent of GDP)

Gross investment

47.3

47.0

40.8

28.2

24.4

Of which: State budget

6.6

2.8

6.0

1.5

1.5

Gross savings

31.7

26.8

30.5

33.9

29.4

Fiscal sector

(In percent of GDP)

Overall fiscal balance 1/

-0.7

-2.4

-2.8

-0.2

-0.2

Revenue

16.6

11.7

14.9

13.5

12.9

Expenditure

17.3

14.1

17.8

13.7

13.2

Domestic government debt

-

1.0

3.7

3.7

3.6

Total public debt 2/

21.8

24.1

28.8

29.1

30.7

Monetary sector

(12-month percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

Credit to the economy 3/

39.4

24.0

14.7

12.0

10.0

Credit to GDP ratio

45.5

55.9

61.1

63.7

63.1

Broad money, incl. foreign currency deposits at CBT

16.1

9.4

11.4

8.4

15.6

External sector

(In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

Exports of goods (In millions of US$)

12,164

7,520

7,788

11,651

12,592

Imports of goods (In millions of US$)

14,051

13,177

10,189

5,323

5,406

Current account balance

-15.6

-20.2

-10.3

5.6

5.0

Foreign direct investment

8.6

5.4

4.0

3.5

3.0

Total public sector external debt

21.8

23.1

25.1

25.4

27.1

Memorandum items:

Nominal GDP (in millions of manat)

125,299

126,630

132,742

142,664

158,429

Nominal GDP (in millions of US$)

35,800

36,180

37,926

40,761

45,265

Sources: Turkmen authorities; and Fund staff estimates and projections.

1/ Excludes government bond issuance.

2/ Includes domestic government debt and external public debt.

3/ Including credit to the government through purchase of government securities.

IMF Communications Department
MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Randa Elnagar

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

@IMFSpokesperson