Press Release No. 18/109

Statement by IMF African Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie at the Conclusion of his Visit to Gabon

March 27, 2018

Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) African Department, issued the following statement in Libreville at the conclusion of his visit to Gabon, which took place on 25-26 March 2018:

“It was a pleasure to visit Gabon as the Director of the IMF’s African Department. Gabon has made substantial progress implementing its Economic Recovery Plan (Plan de Relance Economique) (PRE). I congratulated the authorities on the progress made so far and encouraged them to sustain their reform efforts, especially in areas critical to ensure that the program remains on-track. This includes measures to boost non-oil tax revenues. Also critical will be public finance reforms to curtail non-essential spending, ensure greater transparency in expenditures, and protect spending on social programs. A credible plan to settle domestic and external arrears is also necessary. The first review of Gabon’s program with the Fund was completed in December 2017. Discussions on the second review will start in April.

“I would like to thank President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Prime Minister M. Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, Economy Minister M. Régis Immongault, and Budget Minister M. Jean Fidèle Otandault for their warm hospitality and for the opportunity to learn more about Gabon’s reform program.”