This letter provides an assessment of recent macroeconomic developments in Seychelles and an update on the discussions of Fund staff with the Seychelles authorities on macroeconomic policies and structural reforms that could form the basis for the authorities' request for a new arrangement...

On May 21, 2008, the Executive Board discussed the report of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) on 'Aspects of IMF Corporate Governance - Including the Role of the Executive Board'. The Joint Statement issued by the Executive Board and the Managing Director following the Board discussion...

The past few decades have seen important shifts that have reshaped the global trade landscape. As a share of global output, trade is now at almost three times the level in the early 1950s, in large part driven by the integration of rapidly growing emerging market economies (EMEs). The expansion...

Niger's macroeconomic performance in 2010 was strong, mainly reflecting the exceptional 2010-11 harvest. The bumper crop and the completion of the year-long transition to democracy have also brightened the near-term economic outlook. The recently-adopted revised 2011 budget foresees an increase...

The Fund's Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) program has significantly contributed to the international community's response to money laundering and the financing of terrorism. This paper reviews how the Fund's AML/CFT program has evolved during the past...

The crisis highlighted the importance of debt management in containing debt-related risks and the associated impact on debt markets. The impact of the crisis on debt levels, and the consequent implications for fiscal consolidation, has been the subject of much discussion and analysis. However,...

Bhutan's growth was resilient to the financial crisis and the outlook remains positive. Containing fiscal expansion and enhancing liquidity management are necessary to avoid economic overheating. Strengthening bank supervision is also a top priority

Capital flows have increased significantly in recent years and are a key aspect of the global monetary system. They offer potential benefits to countries, but their size and volatility can also pose policy challenges. The Fund needs to be in a position to provide clear and consistent advice with...