Country Reports
2018
June 6, 2018
Romania: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper reviews the level and structure of tax revenues in Romania and proposes options to improve revenue mobilization drawing from other countries’ experiences. Tax revenue in Romania is low compared with peers and has been declining over time. Strengthening the tax administration is crucial to improving tax collection efficiency in Romania, and requires commitment and ownership at the highest levels. Implementing and operationalizing new information technology infrastructure in Romania is a key priority, given its outdated and fragile systems. Romania should also conduct a comprehensive review of its tax system. This review would guide future reform needs in the area of tax policy with the primarily focus on improving revenue productivity and the growth-friendliness of the tax system.
June 6, 2018
Guinea- Bissau: Fifth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, Request for Extension and Augmentation of Access, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release and Staff Report
Description: This paper discusses Guinea–Bissau’s Fifth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Arrangement, Requests for Extension and Augmentation of Access, and Financing Assurances Review. Program implementation for the fifth review has been good. All performance criteria and indicative targets were met, as were six of eight structural benchmarks, with one of the remaining two benchmarks subsequently completed and the other under way. Economic activity has remained robust. Real GDP grew by an estimated 5.9 percent in 2017, with consumer price inflation of 1.1 percent and an external current account deficit of 0.5 percent of GDP. The IMF staff supports completion of the fifth review under the ECF arrangement, extension of the arrangement, and augmentation of access.
June 6, 2018
Cyprus: Second Post-Program Monitoring Discussions-Press Release; Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Cyprus
Description: This paper discusses Cyprus’ Second Post-Program Monitoring Discussions. Cyprus’s economic recovery has strengthened. GDP growth has reached 3.9 percent in 2017, with upbeat activity concentrated in construction, tourism and professional services. The unemployment rate has continued to decline at a sustained pace, while moderate price and wage rises have supported competitiveness, helping to contain the increase in the current account deficit, despite higher imports. Improved economic conditions have supported robust fiscal revenue collection, contributing to a sizable primary surplus and a decline in the public debt ratio. The current strong expansion is forecast to extend well into the future, with growth inching up to 4 percent in 2018 and 4.2 percent in 2019.
June 4, 2018
Samoa: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Samoa
Description: This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that Samoa’s economy has shown resilience and continues to perform well. Growth remained robust at 2.5 percent in 2016/17, driven by commerce, services and agriculture. Inflation picked up to 1.3 percent in 2016/17, compared with close to zero in the previous year, but remains well below the authorities’ target of 3 percent. The current account deficit narrowed to 2.3 percent, driven by temporary factors. The Samoan Tala appreciated against the United States dollar during 2016/17, although there was little change in the nominal and real effective exchange rates. Growth is projected to moderate to 1.8 percent in 2017/18 and then rebound in 2018/19, as two new businesses scale up operations at the old Yazaki plant and several infrastructure projects are completed.
June 4, 2018
Thailand: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Thailand
Description: This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that a cyclical recovery is under way in Thailand but has yet to become broad based. GDP growth is estimated at 3.9 percent in 2017, boosted by strong tourism services and manufacturing exports. Domestic demand remained sluggish amid structural challenges, and export gains failed to trickle down to household incomes and investments in other sectors. Headline inflation averaged 0.7 percent, below the target band for the third year in a row, reflecting low food prices and weak core inflation. The current account surplus remained large, at about 10.6 percent of GDP. Financial system stability continued to strengthen. The growth momentum is expected to continue in 2018 and 2019, supported by sustained export dynamism.
June 4, 2018
Republic of Equatorial Guinea: Staff-Monitored Program
Description: On May 10, 2018, the IMF approved a Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Equatorial Guinea, covering the period January–July 2018. The SMP will help in building an adequate track record of performance for a potential IMF-supported program. The SMP aims to reduce further the fiscal deficit, increase non-oil revenue, and address critical public financial management weaknesses, while protecting social spending. The SMP also envisages measures to improve the business climate and foster economic diversification. The program will aim to lay the basis for improving governance and transparency in public administration and the hydrocarbon sector. The program will also provide a framework to strengthen public sector capacity through technical assistance provided by the IMF.
June 1, 2018
Georgia: Technical Assistance Report-Enhancing the Fiscal Rules
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses the recommendations made by the IMF mission to assist Georgian authorities in enhancing country’s fiscal rules framework. It is recommended that the fiscal rules should consider both the overall objectives and the economic context in which they are applied. In Georgia, this would include: the stated primary objective of fiscal sustainability as well as the need for flexibility to respond to economic shocks; the transitional nature of the Georgian economy; and the intension to gradually move toward the European Union fiscal governance framework. It is also recommended that the fiscal policy targets should factor in potential economic shocks and fiscal risks.
June 1, 2018
Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Economic Development Documents
Description: This Economic Development Document summarizes Mauritania’s Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP) for 2016–30. The first five-year phase of the SCAPP will complete projects under way and lay the foundations for a new, politically more peaceful Mauritania, with infrastructure put in place to support growth and encourage development of the country's natural resources. Steps will be taken to complete the reforms needed to improve the business climate and promote the private sector. In the second five-year period, the economy will be more diversified and competitive, with the real rate of growth averaging at about 10 percent a year. The third five-year phase will consolidate Mauritania's “new look” and the economic growth will exceed 12 percent a year.
May 31, 2018
Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Technical Assistance Report-The Development of Risk-Based Supervision
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses the main findings and recommendations made by the IMF Mission regarding the development of risk-based supervision (RBS) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Over the past few months, the Bank of Lao has made great strides in preparing for implementation of risk-based supervision of banks. A new supervisory manual reflecting key principles of risk-based approach to supervision has been drafted. The new draft template of the Report of Onsite Examination is broadly in line with the past technical assistance recommendations. Some improvements could support the analysis of trends over longer periods of time, and emphasize exceptions to prudential and/or regulatory norms. Planning an onsite examination using new RBS methods is a logical next step.