The Belarus authorities are moving in the direction of a flexible exchange rate system supported by an inflation-targeting (IT) regime, which would have significant benefits for the economy. A full-fledged IT framework (FFIT) requires a number of essential building blocks, which could be viewed...

This paper first discusses recent economic developments through the first half of 2000, and then, provides an assessment of vulnerabilities in the Belarusian banking system. Dollarization in Belarus is also discussed. In this paper, the current business environment and the existing obstacles to...

Belarus’s economy grew rapidly but remained vulnerable to external shocks. Under the IMF-supported program, Belarus avoided loss of output during the global recession, contained inflation, and increased gross reserves. The structural reform agenda focused on economic liberalization, a shift in...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that Belarus has so far escaped a significant fall in output, despite a sharp fall in external demand. GDP declined 0.5 percent year over year in the first eight months of 2009, comparing favorably to Belarus’ main trading partners. Economic...

This paper discusses key findings of the Fourth Review Under the Stand–By Arrangement for Belarus. All end-December quantitative and continuous performance criteria and structural benchmarks were met. Discussions focused on confirming the authorities’ commitment to program objectives,...

This paper discusses key findings of the Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for the Republic of Belarus. The assessment reveals that compliance supervision in Belarus is detailed with a strong culture of onsite examination. Two...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that macroeconomic developments in Belarus in 2003 were mixed. Although in real terms GDP, industrial production, and agriculture all grew by 6.8 percent; according to official data prepared on Belarusian national methodology growth, would be lower on...

This Detailed Assessment of Compliance—Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision on the Republic of Belarus reviews principle-by-principle assessment and authorities’ response to the assessment. The legal framework for the regulation and supervision of the financial sector has...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country