Press Release No. 15/502

Press Release: IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde Discusses Economic Challenges with GCC Countries

November 8, 2015

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today at the conclusion of a meeting in Qatar with the finance ministers and central bank governors of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)¹ :

“I am pleased for the opportunity to attend the GCC meeting and meet the finance ministers and central bank governors of the Gulf countries to discuss the outlook for the region. The meeting is an important platform for policymakers to address problems in a cooperative way. During the meeting, we exchanged views on the challenges facing the global economy and the GCC region, and the policy responses needed.

“At the moment, a large share of fiscal and export revenues in the GCC come from oil. With oil prices having declined sharply since mid-2014, export revenues are expected to be nearly $275 billion lower in 2015 than in 2014. The fiscal and current account balances in the region are deteriorating sharply, with the fiscal balance projected by the IMF to be in a deficit of 12.7 percent of GDP in 2015. Growth is also expected to slow, with IMF projection suggesting 3.2 percent in 2015 and 2.7 percent in 2016, compared to 3.4 percent in 2014.

“The GCC countries face the challenge of lower oil prices from a position of strength. Prudent policies over the past decade have enabled them to build up financial buffers which avoid the need for a sudden or disruptive adjustment in fiscal policy. Nevertheless, with low oil prices expected to persist for a number of years, all GCC countries need to undertake some degree of fiscal adjustment, although the size and urgency of this adjustment varies across countries. Well-planned fiscal consolidation strategies need to be put in place as soon as possible and communicated so that people understand how the adjustment will take place.

“How best to carry out this fiscal adjustment will depend on each country’s specific situation. But the main elements are common across countries: an expansion of non-oil tax revenues; raising energy prices which are still well below international norms; firm control of current spending, particularly on public sector wages; and a review of capital expenditures. Reforms to strengthen the fiscal frameworks would support these consolidation efforts.

“Banking systems in the GCC generally appear well-placed to weather lower oil prices, weaker growth, and higher U.S. interest rates. Nevertheless, as oil revenues decrease, external financing conditions tighten, and government debt issuance increases, central banks will need to remain vigilant for stresses in the system and provide liquidity to the financial sector if needed. Macroprudential policy can also help manage any systemic stresses in the financial system if they were to emerge.

“Governments should continue to take steps to switch the focus of growth away from the public and toward the private sector. With some 2 million people likely to enter the labor force in the GCC by 2020, and given the fiscal constraints on further increasing government employment, private sector job creation needs to be stepped up. Governments are already implementing many policies in this direction, and important progress is being made. Nevertheless, continued efforts are needed to encourage nationals to seek employment in the private sector and for firms to hire them.

“The IMF will continue to deepen its relationship with the GCC through regular country visits, technical assistance, and training. We stand ready to support the GCC countries in any way they see appropriate as they address the challenges of lower oil prices.

“I thank H.E. Mr. Al-Emadi, Minister of Finance for Qatar, for chairing the GCC meeting and for his government’s generous hospitality. I also thank Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the GCC Secretary General.”

¹ The GCC is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.