Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

A US$ 200 million loan to Morocco, approved, supports a comprehensive program to foster inclusive governance reforms. The Transparency and Accountability Development Policy Loan (DPL), HAKAMA, is the first of two operations which will strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and foster open governance.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Mr. David Hofman visited Belarus during October 17–28, 2013 to hold Post-Program Monitoring discussions. The team met with Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chair of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus Nadezhda Ermakova, Minister of Finance Kharkovetz, Minister of the Economy Nickolai Snopkov, officials from the Presidential Administration, and representatives from think tanks, business, and the diplomatic community.

Sudan - South Sudan map

The World Bank approved a $160 million credit for the Rajasthan Road Sector Modernization Project to support the government of Rajasthan improve rural connectivity, enhance road safety and strengthen the road sector management capacity of the state.

U.S. officials say the Obama administration is weighing whether to order the National Security Agency to stop spying on leaders of American allies.

A new World Bank and IFC report finds that Singapore continues to provide the world’s most business-friendly regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs, followed by Hong Kong SAR, China. In the past year, 15 of 25 economies in East Asia and the Pacific implemented at least one regulatory reform making it easier to do business.

A new World Bank Group report finds that Vietnam strengthened investor protection and improved access to credit to make doing business easier for local firms between July 2012 and June 2013. Across the globe, Singapore continues to provide the world’s most business-friendly regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs, followed by Hong Kong SAR, China. In the past year, 15 of 25 economies in the region implemented at least one regulatory reform making it easier to do business.

Flags of Member States fly in front of the United Nations Headquarters building.

Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru of Kenya, (centre), and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson cut the ribbon at the opening of the UN South-South Expo. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner is at left.

On the eve of two major agriculture summits in Mauritania and Senegal, the World Bank is urging African countries and communities in the Sahel and the international development community to help protect and expand pastoralism on behalf of the more than 80 million people living in The Sahel who rely on it as a major source of food and livelihoods.