Press Release: IMF Approves Second Annual PRGF Loan for Bolivia
February 7, 2000
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved the second-year program for Bolivia under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)1 in an amount equivalent to SDR 33.6 million (about US$46.1 million) to support the government's economic program.
Bolivia's three-year program, originally under ESAF, was first approved on September 18, 1998 (see Press Release 98/41), in an amount equivalent to SDR 100.96 million (about US$138.5 million), of which SDR 33.65 million (about US$46.2 million) has been disbursed. Today's decision provides Bolivia with another SDR 33.6 million to be disbursed in three equal tranches of SDR 11.2 million (about US$15.4 million), the first of which is available immediately.
In commenting on the Executive Board discussion on Bolivia, Stanley Fischer, First Deputy Managing Director, said:
"Bolivia is to be commended for its solid policy track record since 1985, which has made it possible to lower inflation to industrial country levels while strengthening the external sector. Economic growth has averaged four percent a year during the 1990s, despite adverse external shocks. However, improvements in poverty and social indicators have been more modest. The slowdown in economic activity in 1999, resulting from the regional financial crisis and the weakness in international commodity prices, has posed a difficult challenge to Bolivia, and the authorities are to be praised for their successful efforts to maintain sound macroeconomic policies and progress in the implementation of structural reforms.
"The authorities' economic program for 2000 will be supported by the second annual arrangement under the current three-year PRGF commitment, which calls for the continuation of good macroeconomic policies, deepening of structural reforms, and a strengthened commitment to step up the fight against poverty. Under the program, the authorities will maintain the public sector finances on a sound basis, and the fiscal framework should embed the fiscal costs of the needed social outlays," Fischer said.
ANNEX
Program Summary
Although output growth slowed in 1999, Bolivia has weathered the downturn in the Latin America region well. The authorities reacted appropriately to a revenue shortfall by cutting outlays from budgeted levels, maintained a prudent monetary policy stance, and firmly and effectively resisted strong pressure from the private sector to raise external protection and to introduce relief on tax and interest obligations. Inflation declined to 3.1% in 1999.
The program aims at containing inflation in 2000 within a range of 4-4.5% and achieving a small increase in net official international reserves, while allowing a modest widening of the external current account deficit to 6.8% of GDP as the economy recovers and imports increase. Output growth is expected to pick up to about 4%.
The overall deficit of the combined public sector (after grants) is projected to narrow to 3.7% of GDP in 2000 (which would be equivalent to a small surplus excluding the cost of the pension reform) from 4.2% in 1999. The fiscal program aims at a slight improvement in the revenue-to-GDP ratio of the general government. Achievement of the fiscal objective for 2000 will require significant efforts on both the revenue and expenditure sides, which include a reform of customs; the strengthening of the legal base for tax enforcement through a new procedures code; a tight lid on current expenditures, including the wage bill; and a close monitoring of developments in local and regional governments in relation to debt and debt-servicing limits.
The authorities intend to deepen structural reforms in 2000, and the main actions to be undertaken involve completing the privatization program, improving transparency and modernizing the tax system and labor regulations. The remaining assets of the oil company YPFB, which include storage and distribution facilities and service stations, are to be privatized in 2000.
The authorities recognize that, although they have intensified their efforts in the fight against poverty in recent years, much remains to be done. The strengthening and refocusing of the antipoverty efforts will involve a national dialogue with civil society during the first half of this year. Among other already-planned actions, the authorities intend to ensure an adequate budgetary reallocation mainly to the health and education sectors; adopt policies specifically designed to the needs of the Altiplano and other poverty-stricken regions—such as alternative crop development in areas previously dedicated to coca cultivation; and ensure better domestic and international transportation links to facilitate export growth. The authorities also intend to request additional debt relief under the enhanced HIPC2 initiative.
Bolivia joined the IMF on December 27, 1945; its quota3 is SDR 171.5 million (about US$235.3 million). Bolivia's outstanding use of IMF credits totals SDR 180.0 million (about US$246.9 million).
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