11:33 16.07.2016

Moldovan PM confident about signing deal with IMF soon

2 min read
Moldovan PM confident about signing deal with IMF soon

Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip sees the outcomes of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission's work in Moldova on July 5 to 15, 2016 as successful.

"This was the first and successful test. We have received all that we wanted to receive from this test. If I earlier said I hoped very much that Moldova would have a program with the IMF, now I almost have no doubts about that, I am firmly convinced that the government will have a cooperation program with the IMF," Filip said at a news briefing on Friday.

IMF mission head Ivanna Vladkova-Hollar said the mission members had worked productively for two weeks with the Moldovan government, National Bank, members of the parliament, donors, the business community and civil society.

Discussions on a few outstanding issues will continue from Washington, she said.

Filip in response thanked the mission for "a good discussion and confidence in the government."

Only some technical issues remain unresolved before signing a new cooperation program with the IMF, which will be settled in the near future, he said.

"Everybody is talking about money from the IMF, but it plays a secondary role for us. What counts most is reforms that the IMF will support within the framework of its program with the government. They are intended to stabilize the economic situation in Moldova. We have no other option. Through cooperating with the IMF, we can improve our economic condition," he said.

Asked by journalists when the Moldovan government may sign a deal with the IMF, Filip replied, "This is a briefing that doesn't envision answers to questions."

The IMF permanent mission in Moldova reported that the new three-year arrangement under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility (EFF/ECF) in the amount of about $180 million would be aimed at supporting Moldova's economic reform program.

The IMF mission and the Moldovan government have made significant progress in the negotiations on a new deal, and the discussions have entered a new phase, it said.

The discussions with the Moldovan government will continue from Washington in the coming days, it said.

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