Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico recorded the most reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean in the last five years, continuing to make big strides to improve their countries’ business climate, according to the World Bank Group’s latest annual ease of doing business measurement.

The General Assembly adopted for the twenty-fourth consecutive year a resolution calling for an end to the United States economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. A tally of the vote is displayed electronically on two screens.

José Manuel Fernandes

New World Bank reports released on Friday underline the way to improving the competitiveness of key manufacturing sectors in Kenya. Analysis shows that the performance of the timber-furniture, textile-apparel, and leather and leather products value chains in Kenya are important for employment and growth in the country.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on October 23, 2015 completed the second review of Republic of Serbia’s economic performance under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The completion of the review will make available the cumulative amount of SDR 420.93 million (about €531.8 million). The Serbian authorities have indicated their intention to continue treating the arrangement as precautionary.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on Friday approved an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan of US$5 million for Seychelles to support on-going reforms to boost shared prosperity.

The World Bank welcomes Sudan’s decision to join the CGIAR Fund, the world’s largest public vehicle for financing the agricultural research advances needed to tackle complex global development challenges. CGIAR, formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, is a global partnership with over 40 years of experience generating cutting-edge science and technology to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve health and nutrition, and ensure the sustainable management of natural resources across the developing world.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Jacques Miniane, visited Pristina during October 12–23 to conduct the first review of Kosovo’s economic program supported by a Stand By Arrangement.

It has taken eight months of hard work, but the results are finally there: on Monday 26 October the special committee on tax rulings votes on its recommendations for achieving fair and transparent corporate taxation in Europe. MEPs vote on them during November's plenary session, although before that multinationals will still have a chance to share their views on the matter with the committee. Read on for more information and an overview of taxation levels in member states.