11:11 26.05.2017

IMF expects Rada's support reforms for fifth tranche under EFF

2 min read
IMF expects Rada's support reforms for fifth tranche under EFF

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Ron van Rooden, who worked in Kyiv on May 16-26, has issued an end-of-mission statement, saying that it expects the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's support of pension, land, privatization, anti-corruption reforms for securing a fifth tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement.

"While good progress has been made in building understandings on the key elements of these measures, further technical work is needed in some areas to transform these into draft laws that meet the reform objectives. Securing parliamentary approval of these draft laws will be needed to pave the way for the completion of the fourth review," Mr. van Rooden said in the statement on Friday, May 26.

The mission's goal was to initiate discussions on the fourth review of the Ukrainian authorities' economic reform program supported under the EFF.

"In this regard, the mission held constructive discussions with the authorities on reforms needed to improve productivity, attract investment, and continue to strengthen public finances. As envisaged under the program, discussions focused on the pending pension and land reform and on measures to speed up the privatization process and ensure concrete results in anticorruption efforts," he said.

"IMF staff, in cooperation with other international partners, will remain closely engaged with the authorities in the coming weeks to advance the reform agenda," the statement said.

According to the IMF, The Ukrainian economy continues to recover, with growth expected to exceed 2% in 2017. Fiscal and monetary policies remain on track to meet the 2017 targets. Gross international reserves have increased further to US$17.6 billion, and inflation is projected to fall below 10% by the end of the year.

"While the near-term outlook is positive, decisive implementation of structural reforms remains critical to achieve stronger and sustainable growth that Ukraine needs over the medium-term," the IMF mission concluded.

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