## IMF Completes High-Level Staff Visit to Zambia

_IMF News, December 9, 2020_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [IMF Completes High-Level Staff Visit to Zambia](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2020/12/09/pr20365-zambia-imf-completes-high-level-staff-visit)

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: December 9, 2020

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### Visit overview
- Press Release No. 20/365
- Date: December 9, 2020
- Visit dates: December 7 to 9, 2020
- Delegation: Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department; Mr. Alex Segura-Ubiergo, mission chief for Zambia
- Purpose: High-level discussions with the Zambian authorities on their Economic Recovery Plan and their request for a Fund-supported program

### Meetings and participants
- The team met with H.E President Edgar Lungu, Finance Minister Bwalya N’gandu, Governor of the Central Bank Christopher Mvunga, as well as other senior government officials and representatives from civil society and the donor community.

### Statement by Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie (summary of key points)
- Welcomed the opportunity to discuss the broad elements of the authorities’ Economic Recovery Program, which seeks to:
  - restore macroeconomic stability
  - attain fiscal and debt sustainability
  - restore growth
  - safeguard social sector spending
- Noted that given the deep-rooted challenges faced, policies would need to be calibrated to:
  - restore sustainability while protecting the vulnerable
  - create more inclusive growth
- Reported authorities’ reiterated intentions to:
  - restore the credibility of the budget
  - increase debt transparency
  - strengthen public financial management
  - improve governance
  - preserve financial stability
- Stated: “We look forward to the presentation of the government’s home-grown economic strategy, and will be assessing in the coming weeks how the IMF could support the authorities’ reform efforts through a possible Fund program.”

### Contact and media
- IMF Communications Department
- MEDIA RELATIONS
- PRESS OFFICER: Lucie Mboto Fouda
- Phone: +1 202 623-7100
- Email: MEDIA@IMF.org
- @IMFSpokesperson

*International Monetary Fund. Press Release No. 20/365. December 9, 2020.*

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## References

- [Abebe Aemro Selassie](https://www.imf.org/en/About/senior-officials/Bios/abebe-selassie)
- [Zambia and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/ZMB/index.htm)
- [Press Releases](https://www.imf.org/en/news/searchnews)
- [PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)
- [https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2020/12/09/pr20365-zambia-imf-completes-high-level-staff-visit_