IMF Staff Completes 2016 Article IV Mission to Tonga
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ms. Elena Loukoianova visited Nuku’alofa during February 29–March 11, to conduct the 2016 Article IV consultation discussions. The mission met with Prime Minister Honorable Akilisi Pohiva, Minister...
Cultural goods, an economic driver in the digital age
The trade in cultural goods doubled during the period 2004-2013 despite a global recession and a massive shift among consumers of movies and music towards web-based services.
MEPs back duty-free imports of Tunisian olive oil with EU producer safeguards
MEPs voted emergency measures into law on Thursday to help Tunisia’s economy by importing 70,000 tonnes of its virgin olive oil duty free in 2016/17, after adding safeguards for EU olive oil producers. These include a mid-term assessment of the...
OECD unemployment rate down to 6.5% in January 2016
Aviation in Tonga and Kiribati Receives Significant Boost
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Wednesday approved additional funding for aviation projects currently underway in Tonga and Kiribati under the overarching Pacific Aviation Investment Program. The Program is delivering essential...
Cigarettes: MEPs oppose renewing EU anti-smuggling deals with tobacco firms
A majority of MEPs urged the European Commission not to renew an EU anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting deal with Philip Morris International (PMI), which expires in July 2016, in a resolution voted on Wednesday. Instead, they ask it to focus on...
IMF Staff Completes 2016 Article IV Consultation Mission to Zimbabwe and the Third and Final Review of the Staff-Monitored Program
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Domenico Fanizza visited Harare from February 24 to March 11, 2016 to hold discussions on the 2016 Article IV Consultations and the third and final review under a 15-month Staff-Monitored Program (...
7 Million More Jobs Each Year in East Asia if Cities Are More Competitive
More than 7 million more jobs can be created each year in East Asia if the cities improved their competitiveness, says the World Bank’s report Competitive Cities for Jobs and Growth: What, Who, and How.
Overcoming crises, rapid recovery: Parliament’s EU budget priorities for 2017
Next year’s EU budget priorities should continue to be tackling the migration and refugee crisis while at the same time investing more and better to accelerate today’s slow economic recovery, MEPs say in a resolution voted on Wednesday. Parliament...
Leading Youth Training and Employment Program Set for Major Boost
A World Bank-supported program providing thousands of young Papua New Guineans with life skills and employment training has been extended to 2018 with additional funding support of US$ 10.8 million (over PGK 31 million) from the Australian Government...
