This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s (PDR) economy has performed well in recent years, owing to generally stable macroeconomic conditions and a rapidly expanding natural resource sector. Real GDP growth has averaged more than 7 percent since...

The Netherlands has a long-standing legal framework concerning Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism preventive measures, which dates back to 1993. The legal framework for Customer Due Diligence is generally adequate; however, a number of provisions are problematic. The...

As a reflection of the vulnerability to external shocks and the importance of large projects, gross domestic product growth has showed significant variations in the second half of the 1990s. The large public sector investments that have started in 1997 included the Leeward Highway, a new ferry...

The economy has recovered following the stabilization of commodity and food prices. The Article IV discussions focused on policies to secure a sustained recovery and achieve long-term economic and fiscal sustainability. The recovery will likely remain weak, and the consolidated fiscal surplus is...

This paper discusses Togo’s progress under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. In November 2008, the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDA and the IMF agreed that Togo had met the requirements for reaching the decision point under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative....

Economic developments and growth of Jamaica are discussed in this paper. Despite the good performance under the program through end-September, mounting spending pressures and delays in some fiscal reforms have required the adoption of corrective measures by the authorities. The authorities...

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are prepared by the member country in broad consultation with stakeholders and development partners. Despite strong economic performance in recent years compared with Sub-Saharan African and WAEMU countries, Mali’s average annual growth rate of 4.6...

India faces a range of money laundering and terrorist financing risks. India continues to be a target for terrorist groups and has been the victim of numerous attacks. Based on a threat assessment, it was found that India's major sources for terrorist financing (FT) were funds/resources from...

Economic recovery has gained momentum, and short-term prospects have improved. Program implementation is good. Fiscal consolidation is essential for Burkina Faso’s macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Structural reforms remain focused on a few priority areas supporting growth and...

The comprehensive program supported by the IMF, the European Union, and the World Bank has helped Romania in stabilizing its economy, reversing imbalances, rebuilding confidence of international financial markets, and setting a sustainable economic growth. Executive Directors appreciated the...