Cover -- CONTENTS -- GLOSSARY -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- INTRODUCTION -- FINANCIAL SECTOR STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE -- A. The Banking Sector and Financial Stability -- B. The Nonbanking Sector and Financial Stability -- RISKS AND RESILIENCE OF THE BANKING SECTOR -- A. Financial Sector...

KEY ISSUESEconomic context. Growth has been strong, inflation low, and fiscal buffers and international reserves adequate. However, poverty and unemployment remain high, despite large government spending financed from oil revenue. The business climate is among the most challenging and the...

This Selected Issues paper focuses on the prospects of growth in Sao Tome and Principe (STP). This case study seeks explanations for STP's relative under-performance and draws lessons for the future. It compares past economic developments in the islands and recommends policies that could most...

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

This paper presents Republic of Congo's Third Review under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Modification of Performance Criteria, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review. Strengthened economic recovery remains...

This paper presents Democratic Republic of the Congo's Fourth Review under the Extended Credit Facility, Request for Modification of Quantitative Performance Criterion, and Financing Assurances Review. Ongoing macroeconomic pressures and looming risks call for prudent fiscal policy to preserve...

This paper presents Democratic Republic of the Congo's Fifth Review under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Modification of Quantitative Performance Criteria, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review. The Democratic Republic of the Congo's growth...

Timor-Leste has made impressive strides in economic development and institution building. Yet, it is a low-income and fragile country with pressing development needs. A large fraction of the population faces chronic food insecurity, and significant gaps exist in health, education, and...

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated long-standing socio-economic vulnerabilities, which were further compounded by persistent energy shortages, flood-related damages at end-2021, and a sharp increase in global fuel and food prices caused by the war in Ukraine. These have put pressure on domestic...

In response to a request from the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC), the Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducted a Financial Sector Stability Review (FSSR) mission virtually, during January 5-28, 2022. The FSSR performed a diagnostic of the...