Speech

Opening Remarks at a Press Briefing by Kristalina Georgieva following a Conference Call of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC)

March 27, 2020

As prepared for delivery

Good morning. The governing body of the IMF—the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), representing our 189 member countries— met today to discuss the unprecedented challenge posed to the world by COVID-19.  

Following yesterday’s G20 Leaders meeting, the IMFC took stock of the rapidly developing health crisis, it’s impact on the economy, measures taken to address these impacts, and how well the Fund is equipped to help its member countries. 

I noted that since the IMFC last met just a few weeks ago:

• We have reassessed the prospect for growth for 2020 and 2021. It is now clear that we have entered a recession – as bad as or worse than in 2009. We do project recovery in 2021–in fact there may be a sizeable rebound, but only if we succeed with containing the virus – everywhere - and prevent liquidity problems from becoming a solvency issue. A key concern about a long- lasting impact of the sudden stop of the world economy is the risk of a wave of bankruptcies and layoffs that not only can undermine the recovery but can erode the fabric of our societies. 
• To avoid this happening, many countries have taken far-reaching measures to address the health crisis and to cushion its impact on the economy – both on the monetary and on the fiscal side.  The G20 yesterday reported fiscal measures totaling some 5 trillion dollars or over 6 % of global GDP. It is important for those ahead in taking action to share their experience with those still behind. To support this, last night the IMF launched a policy actions tracker for 186 countries to help us all to see who is doing what. We will be updating this information regularly and will provide country-specific analysis in line with our surveillance mandate.
• We have seen an extraordinary spike in requests for IMF emergency financing – some 80 countries have placed requests and more are likely to come. Normally, we never have more than a handful of requests at the same time. Yesterday our Executive Board approved the first of these emergency requests for the Kyrgyz Republic, a record fast disbursement. 
• We also see a wide range of problems building up in emerging markets – the spread of the virus, the shut-down of economies, capital outflows and – for commodity exporters  –  a price shock. Many of these emerging markets will experience a contraction as necessary containment measures take their toll, and are shocked by reduced global demand for their exports – tourism, commodities, and manufactured goods – that provide critical streams of foreign exchange. Our current estimate for the finance needs of emerging markets is $2.5 trillion – a lower- end estimate for which their own reserves and domestic resources would not be sufficient.
• We are being asked by our members to do more, do it better, and do it faster than ever before – and to do it in collaboration with the World Bank and our other partners. How can we meet that challenge?  Specifics:
• First, we are proposing to double our emergency financing capacity;  simplify our processes; and fill the gap in our concessional financing. 
• Second, we are reviewing our lending instruments to see what might be missing in the context of this crisis and so that we can design an appropriate response. For example, can we expand the use of precautionary credit lines? Can we bring forward short-term liquidity provisions?  We want countries to approach the Fund and access the tools they require for the needs they have. The sooner countries can approach us, obtain necessary financing, and implement good policy, the better chance we have to contain the damage and move towards recovery.
• Third, many of our member countries are faced with rapidly building pressures on debt which they need to address. On that note, our Board yesterday approved changes in the application of the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) which can provide some debt relief to our poorest member countries. We are seeking support from our membership to increase the capacity of the CCRT. We have received pledges of support from the U.K., Japan and China —and we hope others will follow quickly. 
• Last but not least, we need urgently to secure the borrowing capacity of the Fund through the NABs (New Arrangements to Borrow) and bilateral borrowing arrangements. In this context, it’s very encouraging that NAB approval is part of the US stimulus package that is before the US Congress. We need other countries which have not yet done so,  to follow suit.

So next steps: the IMFC charged us to discuss these various options further with our Executive Board with a view to having a concrete package of proposals for IMFC consideration at our Spring Meetings in a few weeks time. So it’s all hands on deck at the IMF and working very hard to strengthen our crisis response capacity as much as possible.

Thank you and now I will be pleased to take your questions.