Small Middle-Income Countries—Raising the Bar

Gaborone International Convention Centre, Grand Palm Hotel
Gaborone, Botswana

January 29, 2016

In recent years, small middle-income countries (SMICs) in sub-Saharan Africa have enjoyed stronger growth and economic development than most other countries in the region. More recently, however, a number of external developments have led to headwinds and a slowdown in economic activity. As a result, SMICs in the region need to adjust their policies to preserve stability and restore growth, while at the same time decide on the structural reforms that would set the basis for long-term growth and transition to high-income status. This high-level conference aims to take stock of recent developments and provide a forum to policy makers to exchange views on the above challenges and the policies needed to confront them.

Against this background, the conference will comprise three sessions and a roundtable discussion noted in the agenda below.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Full Day Agenda

0845hrs Opening Remarks: Hon. Minister O K Matambo (Botswana)
0920hrs Keynote Address: "SMICs: Taking Development to the Next Level" - IMF Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Min Zhu
Presentation
1000hrs

Session 1: Living in a more challenging external environment: A Small Middle-Income Country (SMIC) perspective on recent external developments and best policy responses

Panel:

  • Deputy Governor Ms. 'Mathabo Makenete (Lesotho)
  • Ms. Fundi Tshazibana (Alternate Executive Director, IMF Executive Board)
  • Mr. Woury Diallo (Alternate Executive Director, IMF Executive Board)

Moderator:

Ms. Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director, IMF African Department
1115hrs Coffee Break
1130hrs

Session 2: Labour markets, structural constraints, and reform options

Expert address by Dr. Graham Scott: “Motivating and Implementing Deep Structural Reforms – The Experience of New Zealand.”
Presentation

Panel:

  • Assistant Governor Mr. Mfan'fikile Edward Dlamini (Swaziland)
    Presentation
  • Mr. Raj Makoond, Director, Joint Economic Council (Mauritius)
  • Dr. Graham Scott (Former Treasury Secretary, New Zealand)
  • Dr Jay Salkin (Advisor, Monetary and Financial Stability Department; Bank of Botswana)
    Presentation

Moderator:

Prof. Happy Siphambe (Economics Department, University of Botswana)
1300hrs Lunch Address: Professor Andre Sapir: “The Political Economy of Structural Reforms—Lessons from Europe.”
Presentation
1430hrs

Session 3: Financing for development: fiscal challenges and financing options for SMICs

Panel:

  • Deputy Governor Ebson Uanguta (Namibia)
    Presentation
  • Mr. Bertrand Belle (Special Advisor, Vice-President’s Office, Seychelles)
  • Professor Andre Sapir (Universite Libre de Bruxelles)
  • Dr Wilfred Mandlebe (Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; Botswana)
    Presentation

Moderator:

Mr. Lamin Leigh (Coordinator, IMF AFRITAC West)
1545hrs Wrap-up: Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director (IMF)
1830hrs

Dinner

Concluding Remarks: Governor Linah Mohohlo (Botswana)