Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The OECD launched Tuesday the Programme of Work with Brazil which sets out joint activities for the next two years and will strengthen cooperation between the Organisation and the Brazilian Government. At a critical moment for Brazil, this Programme will intensify exchanges on structural reform and see Brazil become more closely engaged in shaping and adhering to best practices and OECD standards.

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

Appropriately sequenced reforms can address long-standing structural inefficiencies and spur growth over the long run, according to the World Bank’s Economic Update for Belarus. The economy needs far-reaching institutional changes which can positively affect enterprise performance, support innovation, and help open new markets for Belarusian products.

A joint World Bank–Austria Urban Partnership Program (UPP) brought together local decision-makers from most of Kosovo’s municipalities to discuss tools and approaches to enhance the efficiency, transparency, accountability, and integrity of public services.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Meredith Arnold McIntyre, visited Antigua and Barbuda during October 19-30 to conduct the 2015 Article IV Consultation and Fourth Post-Program Monitoring review.

The number of tourists travelling the world during the first eight months of this year reached 810 million, a more than 4 per cent increase from the same period in 2014, thanks to “robust” travel to Europe, according to the United Nations World Tourism Barometer.

On October 30, the World Bank Group hosted the regional launch of Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency in Central Asia. In this year’s report, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, implemented a total of 14 reforms in 9 of the 10 indicators included in the ease of doing business ranking.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation to assess whether the proposed acquisition of Telefónica UK by Hutchison would harm competition. The Commission has concerns that the transaction could lead to higher prices, less choice and reduced innovation for customers of mobile telecommunications services in the UK.

On October 30, the World Bank Group hosted the regional launch of Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency in Central Asia. In this year’s report, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, implemented a total of 14 reforms in 9 of the 10 indicators included in the ease of doing business ranking.

A mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Mr. Gerardo Peraza visited Managua from 20 to 29 October 2015 in the context of the Article IV consultation. The mission met with officials from the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, and other members of the economic cabinet, as well as members of the economic commission of the National Assembly, business community and labor leaders, academic groups, and representatives of think tanks.