Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The European economy is expected to grow for the seventh year in a row in 2019, with expansion forecast in every Member State. The pace of growth overall is projected to moderate compared to the high rates of recent years and the outlook is subject to large uncertainty.

The World Bank, on Febuary 7, approved a US$30 million development policy grant to support the Palestinian Authority’s reform program in strengthening fiscal resilience and creating an environment conducive for private investment and job creation.

EP negotiators struck a deal with EU ministers on minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, such as Uber or Deliveroo.

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Martin Cerisola, visited Amman during January 27-February 7, to discuss the country’s recent economic developments; as well as the authorities’ economic policies and reforms under Jordan’s reform program supported by a three-year IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement.

To facilitate broad-based and inclusive growth in Papua New Guinea (PNG), increasing the quality of human capital through better education and health services and strengthening the business environment to spur private sector development will be key, according to a report released by the World Bank, on February 7.

On January 25, 2019, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2018 Article IV consultation with Italy.

The World Bank and Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan, signed a new financial package totaling $325 million in grants to strengthen economic and job opportunities in cities with a high influx of displaced people, on Febuary 6. Also the grant will support selected provincial capital cities to enhance service delivery, and strengthen the capacity of selected line ministries.

IMF Country Focus interviewed Rishi Goyal, the head of the IMF team for Italy, to discuss some of these reforms, the risks facing the economy, and the report’s overall findings.

The World Bank on Febuary 6 announced the five-year debarment of Rojoke CNE Services Ltd. (Rojoke) and CNE Environmental & Waste Services Ltd. (CNE), both Nigeria-based companies, and their owner, Mr. Robinson Ekenedilichukwu Ojoko, for engaging in fraudulent practices during the procurement process for waste management and refuse collection contracts under the State Employment and Expenditure for Results Project in Nigeria.

The European Union (EU) has signed two agreements with the World Bank’s (WB) Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) to provide funding totaling EUR 30.7 million that will strengthen disaster risk management (DRM) in the Caribbean. The programs will support Caribbean countries to plan for long-term resilience and climate-smart growth strategies, and to design and implement innovative policy and investment initiatives. The two programmes that will benefit are the Caribbean Regional Resilience Building Facility (EUR 27.7 million) and the Technical Assistance Program for Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance in Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) (EUR3 million).