IMF Boss On Duty Tour

The first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. John Lipsky, will be in the country from tomorrow Tuesday, February 16-17, 2009 for discussions with policy makers and opinion leaders on the country’s economic prospects.

While in the country, Mr. Lispky will meet with political leaders and economic team to discuss the country’s prospects in the context of the authorities’ current economic programme, which is supported by the fund under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). A statement from the IMF said that the deputy managing director of the fund would also discuss the country’s preparations for the next development in its economy-oil production.

He is expected to address members of parliament and participate in a roundtable discussion with civil society organisations. Mr. Lipsky would mark a two-day stop over at Monrovia, Liberia, from Monday, February 14-16, before arriving in the country.

According to the IMF, while in the Liberian capital, Mr. Lipsky would be meeting with the government of Liberia and parliamentarians, as well as the international community and the private sector.

“These discussions will focus on actions to help Liberia overcome the impact of the financial crisis, foster growth and to complete the IMF–supported debt reduction initiative, ‘the statement said, adding that Mr. Lipsky would also meet students at the University of Liberia.

In both countries, the IMF official will discuss how African countries have been impacted by the global economic crisis, their responses to it and how the IMF could partner with them to support their return to sustainable growth and development. According to the IMF, it had over the past year increased assistance significantly to African countries to help them deal with the effects of the financial crisis.

The fund had also streamlined its concessional lending to low-income countries, most of which it said were in Africa, the statement added.

Source: Daily Graphic