This 2009 Article IV Consultation discusses that the impact of the global financial crisis on Syria has been relatively moderate and mostly through linkages to trading partners in the GCC and Europe. Lower growth in manufacturing, construction, and services was partially offset by a moderate...

Ghana showed strong growth underpinned by high commodity export prices, the start of oil production, and strong non-oil activity. Executive Directors welcomed this development, and stressed that monetary policy implementation will need to remain vigilant. Directors welcomed the recent approval...

The macroeconomic performance for Lao People’s Democratic Republic is encouraging, but underlying fragilities remain. Progress needs to be made on structural reforms. On the fiscal side, the immediate challenge is to avoid an unsustainable expansion of spending. The medium-term priority...

Namibia was negatively impacted by the 2008 global financial crisis, reversing years of strong economic performance and deteriorating both fiscal and external positions. Accordingly, the authorities have committed to undertake fiscal consolidation with a view to reduce the fiscal deficit to 2.6...

This paper discusses key findings of the Sixth Review under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) for Cape Verde. Policy implementation under the PSI-supported program continues to be strong; all PSIs quantitative targets except for one at end-December 2008 were met. In 2009, real GDP growth is...

This 2010 Article IV Consultation highlights that Egypt has weathered the global financial crisis relatively well and financial market pressures have eased after the initial outflow. Equity prices plateaued in recent months, after having recovered over half of the losses since the April 2008...

This paper presents Burkina Faso’s third review under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Favorable weather augurs well for a rebound in agricultural production, but real GDP growth is expected to remain below trend in the near term. A good harvest...

Despite severe economic, political, and natural setbacks in Benin in 2010, its economic growth has accelerated in 2011. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appreciated Benin’s economic performance under the program supported by the Extended Credit Facility...

This paper discusses key findings of the Review Under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) Arrangement for Poland. The authorities have taken measures to mitigate the economic slowdown and maintain macroeconomic stability. With subdued inflation, monetary policy has been accommodative during the first...

This 2006 Article IV Consultation highlights that an acute electricity crisis threatens Uganda’s macroeconomic performance. The regional drought in 2005/06 reduced Uganda’s already inadequate hydropower-generating capacity, resulting in a production gap of nearly one-half of...