Economy

Int'l Monetary Fund Ends 4th Mission to Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed a 4-day mission to Haiti where it held talks with the Prime Minister, Ministers of Finance and Commerce and the Governor of the Central Bank on the topics of combating money laundering, corruption and extreme poverty.

The mission from June 4 to 8 was the fourth review of the Haitian state under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) that Haiti benefits from, receiving financial assistant even with its protracted balance payment problems.

Overall, the delegation “expressed satisfaction in the progress made by national authorities”, said the Ministry of Commerce. The mission commended authorities in their performance in implementing programs that are aimed at lowering inflation and raising tax revenues.

Haitian authorities were encourage to fight against smuggling, strengthening tax and customs administration, improving the business climate and the establishment of social protenction programs.

Members of the mission met with Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, the Minister Responsible for Human Rights and the Ministry Fighting against Extreme Poverty and members of the private sector.

Members of the mission worked with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie, the Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, Charles Castel and his board members.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the macroeconomic and financial situation in the first half of fiscal 2011-2012, to undertake the review of the program agreed with the IMF and discuss the direction of economic policy to be implemented in fiscal year 2012-13.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance, the Haitian authorities took advantage of the IMF mission to discuss progress and challenges in the reconstruction process, stimulating economic activity and the fight against poverty.

In December 2011, the IMF announced a projected growth of 7.8% for the Haitian economy in 2012, a near percentage drop from 8.6% that the institution projected for 2012 in May of 2011.