Country Reports
2023
November 7, 2023
Seychelles: Technical Assistance Report-Stress Testing the Central Bank Balance Sheet
Description: A Technical Assistance (TA) mission was conducted in Victoria, Seychelles, from July 17 to 27, 2023, to assist the authorities in stress testing the balance sheet of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS). The TA mission focused on: (i) reviewing the CBS financial reporting from an International Financial Reporting Standards 9 Financial Instruments point of view; (ii) stress-testing the CBS balance sheet for several deterministic scenarios, as well as for credit, interest rate, and exchange rate risks; (iii) evaluating the CBS operating expenses based on an international comparison, and (iv) helping the CBS to prepare the communication around a possible recapitalization. The technical assistance report provides an overview of the results emanating from these tasks and provides key recommendations on recapitalization, as well as on the implementation of measures to improve financial reporting and financial risk management. Moreover, the report provides a detailed summary of the technical components of Central Bank Operations Division of the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department’s central bank stress-testing model – which in conjunction with a three-day workshop conducted during the mission on running the model – provides guidance to authorities on institutionalizing this model to routinely conduct stress-testing of the CBS balance sheet.
November 6, 2023
Central African Republic: First Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Quantitative Performance Criteria, Rephasing of Access, and Financing Assurance Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Central African Republic
Description: Board approval of the new ECF-supported program helped avert a crisis in CAR. The new program immediately boosted investor confidence and markedly improved the government’s access to domestic financing. The program has also established a framework to implement much-needed fiscal and governance reforms, unlock IFI financing, safeguard public service delivery in social sectors. Yet, the overall environment has stayed fragile due to protracted security risks and a volatile political situation, which was recently heightened by a constitutional reform that removed presidential term limits. Further, the macroeconomic standing remains weak as CAR continues to climb out of the loss of budget support and severe disruptions in the local fuel market.
November 3, 2023
Peru: Technical Assistance Report-Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Stakeholder Engagement
Description: The goal of the mission was to continue to support the BCRP in its effort to research the conditions for success for a CBDC, as well as the role of various stakeholders. The IMF has been providing Technical Assistance to BCRP on the topic of CBDC since 2021. The initial TA mission supported the central bank during the first phase of the project, called the Preparation phase, which involved clarifying the context, key questions, and potential approaches to study a CBDC. The second phase of the BCRP’s CBDC project, known as the Proof of Assumptions phase, started with the publication of a paper by the central bank, supported by the current mission. The white paper outlined the context, goals and challenges related to a potential CBDC in Peru. Consistent with recommendations from the first mission, the BCRP recognized the need to focus on an initial engagement with stakeholders, including representatives of the banking sector, payment service providers, and the Fintech and technology sector.
November 3, 2023
Slovak Republic: Technical Assistance Report-Implementing Public Expenditure Limits
Description: Multi-annual public expenditure limits (PEL) are the latest addition to Slovakia’s rule-based fiscal framework and provide an operational fiscal policy instrument to strengthen fiscal discipline. This report advises on enhancements to public financial management for the successful introduction of PEL. It outlines the steps to move towards a more strategic, medium-term approach to budgeting. It also advises on how to manage spending under the PEL, including through contingency margins; to integrate expenditure baselines and spending reviews in the budget process; and to tighten budget execution. Finally, it advises on institutional changes to facilitate the process.
November 3, 2023
Slovak Republic: Technical Assistance Report-Fiscal Transparency Evaluation
Description: There are relatively strong institutions in place to support fiscal transparency in Slovakia. The evaluation in this report shows that most aspects of Slovakia’s fiscal reporting, budgeting and risk management are in line with the good or advanced practices of the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code. The evaluation also highlights several areas where Slovakia’s fiscal transparency practices could be further improved, and the report provides a series of recommendations to address the above-mentioned gaps.
November 3, 2023
Tonga: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: The Tongan economy is performing strongly, underpinned by resilient remittance inflows and major reconstruction activities following the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai (HTHH) volcanic eruption in January 2022. However, supply-side constraints resulting from severe labor shortages and damaged tourism facilities are impeding the recovery and have intensified inflation pressures. In this context, the authorities are confronting a challenging tradeoff between supporting reconstruction and managing inflation in the short term. In the long term, Tonga's high vulnerability to natural disasters complicates its efforts to create the fiscal space necessary to finance development spending.
November 1, 2023
Mexico: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report
Description: A broad-based expansion is underway, with robust domestic demand. Inflation has started to recede, and prudent fiscal policy has kept public debt in check. The changes underway in the global economy—including a shift to a lower carbon economy and the reshaping of supply chains—provide an important opportunity for Mexico. However, a broad set of reforms will be needed to translate this opportunity into improved employment prospects and better living standards.
October 31, 2023
Ghana: Technical Assistance Report-Diagnostic Mission on Macro-relevant Climate Change Statistics
Description: This diagnostic mission, financed under a SECO Transformative Statistics Agenda two-year project (FY23-25), assessed country priorities in view of Ghana’s climate challenges and identified key indicators for development under the Environment and Climate Change Statistics Capacity Development Program. Discussions were conducted during plenary and bilateral sessions with key national stakeholders representing data compilers and users to take stock of work already undertaken on climate change related statistics for Ghana, ongoing capacity development initiatives with other agencies, policy needs and data gaps, and data sources. These discussions were facilitated by provision of introductory training on climate change indicators. Participating agencies included the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Commission, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), and the Bank of Ghana.
October 27, 2023
Morocco: Request for an Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; Supplement; Staff Statement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Morocco
Description: Climate change is both a major threat and a source of opportunities for Morocco’s development. On one hand, Morocco is one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, and water scarcity is a serious constraint to the country’s ambition to transition to a new model of development. The authorities are planning to boost investment in water infrastructure, but this should be complemented by demand management reforms that bring the price of water closer to its actual cost and induce a shift in consumption behavior. On the other hand, Morocco can take advantage of its abundant competitive renewable energy resources to reduce its still high dependence on fossil fuels. Decarbonizing the energy matrix would require significant investments in renewable energy, which should be largely shouldered by the private sector. It would also require deep regulatory reforms, including further efforts to liberalize the electricity sector. Fully exploiting this renewable energy potential could reduce Morocco´s reliance on imported fuels, help Moroccan firms’ competitiveness in neighboring markets that are embracing a green energy transition (most notably the European Union), and help create jobs. The strong earthquake that hit Morocco on September 8, exerting a heavy toll in terms of human lives and physical damages, highlights the importance of strengthening the country’s preparedness and resilience to natural disasters, including from climate change.