Public Information Notice No. 10/112

Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2010 Article IV Consultation with Haiti

August 6, 2010

On July 21, 2010, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Haiti ¹.

Background

The January 12, 2010 earthquake was a major setback for Haiti. Progress since 2004 in maintaining macroeconomic stability, resuming growth, and implementing essential reforms allowed the cancellation of US$1.2 billion of debt under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relieve Initiative (MDRI) in June 2009. Growth reached 2.9 percent in 2009, one of the highest rates in the Western Hemisphere, fueled by stronger agricultural and manufacturing output. Annual inflation was virtually zero in December due to the unwinding of the international food and fuel price shock. Prudent fiscal policies helped contain the deficit (excluding grants and externally financed projects) to 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), while the external current account deficit narrowed to 3.2 percent of GDP (from 4.8 percent of GDP in 2008), helped by strong exports, low import prices, and resilient remittances.

The earthquake caused unprecedented damages and losses, estimated at 120 percent of 2009 GDP. Over 225,000 persons were killed and 300,000 injured. Most ministries, hospitals, and schools in the Port-au-Prince region were destroyed. The humanitarian situation is only slowly improving, with 1.3 million people remaining in temporary shelters. Before the earthquake, Haiti was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, ranking in the bottom quartile of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Index.

At a high level donor conference in New York in March, the government presented its National Action Plan for Recovery and Development to build a better Haiti. The plan aims at sustainably raising medium-term growth and reducing poverty by creating decentralized economic growth poles, reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, enhancing access to basic social services, and strengthening state institutions. Donors generously pledged US$9.9 billion in support of Haiti’s reconstruction, of which US$5.3 billion are to be disbursed over the next 18 months. Although actual disbursements so far have been slow, external aid related to the reconstruction could triple as a share of GDP over the next 3-5 years.

A recovery in economic activity, led by a rebound in agriculture, construction (including debris removal), and textile manufacturing, is mitigating the GDP decline (projected at 8.5 percent for the fiscal year ending in September 2010). Twelve month inflation reached 6.4 percent in May, in line with a projected increase of 8.5 percent for the year. The gourde has remained broadly stable since end-January, as the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) has stepped up its net foreign exchange purchases. Net International Reserves grew to US$646 million at end-May (from US$402 million at end-December). A recovery in revenue collection since January and weak spending have compensated for slow budget support disbursements. However, priority spending on relocation of families, education, energy, and transport infrastructure should pick up in the coming months. To maintain financial sector stability and restart credit, the central bank is launching a partial credit guarantee scheme, with technical support from the IMF and the World Bank.

Executive Board Assessment

Executive Directors noted that the January 2010 earthquake represented a major setback for Haiti, after several years of improved economic performance. Directors commended the authorities for quickly restoring basic government functions and maintaining sound policies in the very difficult conditions following the earthquake. They welcomed the incipient economic recovery, and stressed that swift disbursement of the resources pledged by donors for reconstruction and steady implementation of the economic program will be crucial to sustain growth.

Directors praised the authorities for their determination to build a better Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. They welcomed the authorities’ National Action Plan for Recovery and Development and agreed that the priorities outlined in the Plan should guide the reconstruction process. Directors also noted that, in the context of severe capacity constraints, the successful implementation of the Action Plan will require close coordination by the Interim Haitian Reconstruction Commission.

Directors agreed that securing adequate budget support from donors is essential to fund priority programs. They welcomed the authorities’ commitment to further strengthen revenue administration and reform tax policy to enhance domestic resource generation. Directors also welcomed the authorities’ efforts to prioritize and align spending with reconstruction priorities, and to improve the tracking and reporting of public spending.

Directors stressed that further improvements in the monetary framework will be critical to enhancing the effectiveness of monetary policy. They welcomed plans to accelerate foreign exchange auctions reform, introduce Treasury bills, and recapitalize the central bank. Directors also noted staff’s assessment that the exchange rate is broadly in line with economic fundamentals and underscored that additional exchange rate flexibility will help ensure the absorption of aid inflows while avoiding inflationary pressures.

Directors concurred that steadfast improvements in the business climate and in governance are required to boost investment and private credit, reduce supply-side bottlenecks, and expand the export base. They welcomed the implementation of the Partial Credit Guarantee scheme as an important step to restart private sector activity and noted that the successful decentralization of economic activity will require strong partnerships with the private sector.

Directors agreed that the new three-year Extend Credit Facility-supported program provides an important anchor to the authorities’ economic policies and donor support in the context of the reconstruction process. The program provides a coherent set of macroeconomic policies that will support the authorities’ reconstruction and growth objectives, including by smoothing out the impact on the economy of large expected aid inflows. The program is supported by a comprehensive medium-term technical assistance strategy focused on strengthening state institutions.

Directors agreed that Haiti met the eligibility and qualification criteria for debt stock relief under the Post-Catastrophe Debt Relief Trust Fund. They noted that debt relief from the Fund and other creditors would free vital resources to alleviate Haiti’s protracted balance-of-payments needs, which have been exacerbated by the earthquake. Given Haiti’s persistent high debt vulnerabilities, Directors emphasized that future financing needs should be covered mostly through grants and highly concessional financing.

It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Haiti will be held in accordance with the Executive Board decision on the consultation cycle for members with Fund arrangements.