Mozambique and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic and financial policies that could support the approval of the First Review of the program under the ECF arrangement. The ECF also known as Extended Credit Facility provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. “All quantitative and structural benchmarks set for the first review have been met and good progress was made on the broader structural agenda. Looking ahead, the macroeconomic environment remains challenging.” The agreement awaits the approval of the IMF Executive Board in December, which would enable the disbursement of about $63.8 million. The Washington-based institution welcomed the Bank of Mozambique (BM) response to contain inflation which it called “proactive”. The IMF granted a 500-million-dollar loan to Mozambique, a first since it withdrew six years ago at the time after finding undisclosed debts in the so-called “hidden debt” scandal involving the government.
SOURCE: AFRICA NEWS