Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

On December 16, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decided that the claim arising from the US$3 billion Eurobond issued by Ukraine on December 24, 2013 and held by Russia’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) is an official claim for the purposes of the Fund’s policy on arrears to official bilateral creditors. At the request of the Executive Director for the Russian Federation, the Board considered the staff paper and endorsed the staff assessment without a meeting. Ukraine is not currently in arrears to its official creditors.

Malaysia’s growth is projected to remain at 4.7 percent in 2015, easing to 4.5 percent in 2016. This outlook reflects some slowdown in domestic demand in the course of 2015 from tighter fiscal conditions, which are expected to continue in 2016-17, a new World Bank report states. Overall, domestic demand is projected to grow, remaining the main driver of growth in a context of soft global demand.

On December 9, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed a staff paper on recent macroeconomic developments and near-term prospects for low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The paper also examines the experience of LIDCs with capital inflows over the past decade and it builds on a similar paper produced in 2014 that focused on longer-term economic developments.

Member states must apply the EU's eight-point code on arms exports more rigorously, particularly with the changed security environment in the EU's neighbourhood, the EP said on Thursday. It stressed that these trade flows are not in the EU's direct security interests and national political and economic considerations must not override decision-making on export licences.

The economic recovery in the European Union (EU) is gaining strength, but the pace of growth continues to be modest, despite accommodative monetary policy and favorable financial conditions, and investment remains subdued, says the new World Bank EU Regular Economic Report, a semiannual publication that covers economic developments, prospects, and economic policies in the EU.

More equal access to employment services and better co-ordination between the government and social partners could help disadvantaged laid-off workers get back into employment, according to a new OECD report.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved US$50 million in financing on December 11 to maintain 5,000 kilometers of rural roads and to rehabilitate 2,200 additional kilometers, with the intention of improving the country’s competitiveness and increasing access to markets and public services among poor and remote rural populations.

Over 100 UK councils have been selected to join phase 3 of the One Public Estate programme to release excess government land and property.

Trade in Cambodia’s ports: products from Viet Nam arrive at the Phnom Penh Autonomous port in Kandal province.

On December 9, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Swaziland.