Jun 2017 Financial News

World Bank approves US$70M to support Jamaica's fiscal sustainability

Jun 09, 2017

The World Bank today approved a US$70 million development policy loan to support Jamaica’s efforts to improve the investment climate and sustain fiscal and public financial management.

In a release, the Bank said the reforms adopted by the government since 2013 have succeeded in stabilizing the economy and reducing debt.

Jamaica’s economy is showing signs of a modest growth acceleration, employment is rising and inflation has dropped to the historically low level of 2.3per cent in 2016, it said.

 “Jamaica’s sustained and strong commitment in implementing an ambitious economic reform programe has led to the country’s positive economic performance,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.

“The economic outlook remains favourable and is expected to continue to improve with the authorities’ staying the course on the reform programme,” he added. 

The World Bank remains Jamaica’s longstanding partner with the new financing aimed at boosting competitiveness and enhancing fiscal sustainability,  said Sayed.

Specifically, the financing support efforts to increase economic competitiveness through reforms that make Jamaica’s special economic zones more attractive to investors, reduce customs clearance times, diversify sources of electricity generation, and upgrade building and construction standards, the World Bank said.

In addition, it will help the Jamaican government to ensure fiscal sustainability through stronger systems for debt management, fiscal risks assessment, and public investment management, as well as through placing public servants’ pensions on a sound financial basis for the long term, the release said.

 The financing builds on the reforms supported under previous development policy loans to Jamaica and is part of a package of financial support from the International Monetary Fund standby arrangement, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, with the objective of boosting economic growth while maintaining fiscal prudence.

 The loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to Jamaica has a final maturity of 25 years, with a five-year grace period.

 “We welcome this boost toward the continued improvement of Jamaica’s fiscal management and competitiveness,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw.

Source:
business@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner
Friday June 9, 2017

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