Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU bank, on April 16th, announced the launch of a new financing initiative that aims to unlock close to EUR 1bn of investment in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector. Bioeconomy encompasses the value chains of production and the processing of food, material and energy using renewable biological resources from land and sea. This large EIB lending programme for agriculture and bioeconomy outlines the Bank’s broader support to this sector.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the National Bank of Greece (NBG)have signed three guarantee agreements worth €640 million to improve access to finance for small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greece. These agreements benefit from the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe, the Juncker Plan.

The State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Affairs of the Netherlands, Raymond Knops, on April 16th, signed an agreement with World Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva in the presence of Sint Maarten Prime Minister Leona M. Marlin-Romeo, to channel 470 million euros (about US$580 million) through a Trust Fund managed by the World Bank to help Sint Maarten build back better and increase resilience following the devastation caused by hurricane Irma.

On April 10, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the 2018 Article IV Consultation and the third review of Jamaica’s performance under the program supported by the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), on a lapse of time basis. The 36- month SBA with a total access of SDR 1,195.3 million (about US$ US$1.7 billion), equivalent of 312 percent of Jamaica’s quota in the IMF, was approved by the IMF’s Executive Board on November 11, 2016.

A new report by the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows that the NHS could save nearly £800 million by merging various NHS management bodies.

The exponential growth in number of Internet users offers opportunities but also raises privacy concerns.

Investments in infrastructure and education, skills, and health, are not only key to sustaining high growth but will also ensure that poor and vulnerable families have access to better job opportunities. Delivering inclusive economic growth through good jobs remains the country’s most pressing challenge, according to the World Bank.

South Asia has regained its lead as the fastest growing region in the world, supported by recovery in India. With the right mix of policies and reforms, growth is expected to accelerate to 6.9 percent in 2018 and 7.1 percent next year.

On April 13, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the first review of Chad’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. Completion of this review enables the immediate disbursement of SDR 35.05 million (about US$51 million).