KEY ISSUES Recent economic developments. The economy is slowly emerging from the 2014 recession, benefiting from low oil prices and the euro area recovery, which have helped to contain the short-term effects of fiscal consolidation. However, growth is only expected to return in 2016....

Context and post-program performance: Macroeconomic conditions continued to improve, with the economy recording a second year of strong growth of about 6 percent, significantly higher than envisaged in the 9th Review. The fiscal balance has also been exceptionally strong, reflecting both robust...

All but one performance criteria were met at end-April 2015 and structural benchmarks were largely completed, some with delays. However, there was non-observance of the continuous performance criterion on the ceiling on gross credit to government by Bank of Ghana (BoG) in April by a small margin...

The Executive Board approved on February 2, 2015 a 12-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and an arrangement under the Standby Credit Facility (SCF), with combined access of SDR 488.52 million (180 percent of quota). The first tranche of SDR 379.96 million (140 percent of quota) was made available...

This paper discusses Serbia’s Second Review Under the Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) and Request for Waivers of Applicability of Performance Criteria (PCs). The economy of Serbia is gradually recovering from the 2014 recession, supported by strong export performance coupled with a...

This paper discusses Armenia’s Second Review Under the Extended Arrangement and Request for Waivers of Nonobservance and Rephasing. Since late 2014, Armenia’s economic performance has been affected by significantly weaker external conditions, as the slowdown of the Russian economy, the...

This paper discusses Honduras’ First Reviews Under the Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) and Standby Credit Facility (SCF). Program implementation for the first reviews has been strong. All 2014 performance criteria and indicative targets were met, most with significant margins. The authorities have...

This paper discusses Liberia’s Request for an Extension of the Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). From mid-2014 to mid-2015, Liberia faced a serious Ebola virus disease crisis, which triggered the declaration of a state of emergency. End-June 2014 performance criteria (PCs)...

This paper discusses Bangladesh’s Fifth and Sixth Reviews Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement. The current ECF arrangement, approved in April 2012, is drawing to a close. Over its three years, macroeconomic stability has been buttressed: growth is strong, inflation has eased, the...

This paper discusses Dominica’s Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). Tropical Storm Erika had a devastating effect on Dominica’s economy. Total damage and loss is estimated at 96 percent of GDP. Real GDP is projected to decline by 3 percent in 2015, and...