This paper assesses the First Review Under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Afghanistan. The authorities have met all of the indicative quantitative targets set out under the SMP and all the structural benchmarks, except the benchmark on licensing of commercial banks, which was only partly...

The report provides the details of the Malta Financial Stability Assessment (MFSA). It defines its roles, responsibilities, and objectives for financial policies. It reviews the reports on the observance of standards and codes on monetary and financial policy transparency, banking supervision,...

This paper presents key findings of the Detailed Assessment of the Observance of Standards and Codes in the Financial Sector of Bermuda. The small number of licensed deposit-taking institutions in Bermuda are part of the broader financial intermediation sector. Typically, some 50 percent to 60...

This paper discusses the Financial Sector Assessment Program focusing on Detailed Assessment of Implementation of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation for Italy. The IOSCO Principles list a number of preconditions to...

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has most of the essential elements for a suitable framework for financial supervision. There is a weakness with respect to onsite supervision of banking, insurance, and securities sectors; and there is currently no regular and comprehensive examination and...

This report on the Observance of Standards and Codes reviews Luxembourg’s observance of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 40 Recommendations for Anti-Money Laundering and eight Special Recommendations on Combating the Financing of Terrorism. The assessment reveals that Luxembourg has...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix reviews the past conduct of monetary policy of Tonga. The paper considers the problems in the current system and discusses the policy options available to the authorities. It reviews Tonga’s exchange rate policy and explores its...

This report evaluates the Observance of Standards and Codes on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for New Zealand (NZ). The assessment reveals that since its last evaluation in 1998, NZ has made few...

This paper reviews of Sector Regulation and Supervision for Seychelles. Regulation and supervision of the banking sector and foreign exchange bureaus in Seychelles is carried out by the Bank Supervision Division of the Central Bank. Supervision of the credit union and the insurance companies is...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that during the first four years of the Third Five-Year Development Plan (2000/01–2003/04), Iran’s real GDP grew by 5.6 percent on average. The external current account was in surplus, external debt was reduced to a very low level,...