Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The World Bank and the Romanian Ministry for Information Society hosted a workshop entitled “e-Government Transformation: Moving from Nice-to-Have to Must-Have” in Bucharest on May 30th as part of the Bank’s regional work on the Smart Specialization and Digital Agenda.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third review of Greece’s performance under an economic program supported by an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. The completion of this review enables the disbursement of SDR 1.5 billion (about €1.74 billion or US$2.26 billion), which would bring total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 5.7 billion (about €6.57 billion or US$8.55 billion).

Investment in SMEs working in the area of environmentally innovative technologies is producing above average returns, creating valuable jobs and also alleviating environmental impacts, according to a new report. The performance of young SMEs funded over the past two years under the eco-innovation component of the EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) has been analysed and shows impressive results. The investment of EU eco-innovation funds shows a 20-fold return - every euro invested has resulted in 20 euros for its beneficiaries. Furthermore each project supported has generated an additional 8 permanent full-time jobs.

CTF loans help increase privately operated renewable energy production and private sector energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy cost in Turkey

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved two International Development Association (IDA)* credits totaling US$45 million to support the Government of Liberia’s new strategy to expand electricity coverage by 2030, as well as improve maternal health, child health and infectious disease services in Liberia.

As a further sign of international efforts to crack down on tax offenders, 12 more countries have signed, or committed to sign, the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. In addition, another 6 countries have ratified the Convention.

The leaders of the two Sudans announced plans at the African Union summit to open four new crossing points along their 2,200-kilometer border.

Gold miners in Ghana.