Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

On March 13, 2017, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the second and third reviews of the Republic of Kosovo’s economic performance under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The completion of the reviews enables the disbursement of SDR 79.20 million (about €100 million), which would bring the total disbursements under the SBA to SDR 135.40 million (about €172 million).

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on March 13, approved a US$100 million Financial Sector Development Policy Loan (DPL) to the Republic of Albania. The policy operation supports reforms aimed at strengthening the resilience of the banking sector and the regulation and supervision of nonbank financial institutions in Albania.

A new World Bank report explores how Thailand can restart its economic engine in ways that benefit all people in the country and help protect the environment.

Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the World Bank, and the Australian Embassy met today to officially launch the Additional Financing to the ongoing Second Trade Development Facility Project, which will receive an increase of financing, with additional Australian funding of $2.5 million.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on March 10, approved a US$150 million financing in support of the Moroccan government’s goal of modernizing its national identification system and provide financing to promote innovative startups and job creation. With an aim of enhancing social and economic inclusion, the two operations will enable better identification of individuals for better targeting of social programs and lifting barriers to accessing finance for startups and small enterprises.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Brian Aitken, visited Dhaka during February 26-March 9 to hold discussions on the 2017 Article IV Consultation with Bangladesh. The mission met with the Finance Secretary, Bangladesh Bank Governor, Executive Chairman Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Secretary Bank and Financial Institutions Division, Chairman National Board of Revenue, other senior officials, as well as representatives of the business and banking sectors, labor unions, think tanks and development partners.

Australia’s strong economy has helped drive a healthy job market. But to avoid a future shortage of labour as the population ages, further efforts are needed to help older women, indigenous Australians and mothers with young children into work, according to a new OECD report.

An IMF staff team headed by Abdoul Aziz Wane visited Brazzaville from February 20 to March 8, 2017 to initiate discussions toward a possible financial arrangement that could be supported by the IMF, and finalize the discussions on the 2017 Article IV consultation.

“Famine is a stain on our collective conscience. Millions of lives are at risk and more will die if we do not act quickly and decisively.