IMF | - Part 2

Drawn-Out Vote in Kenya Increased Risks for Investors, IMF Says

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Kenya’s election rerun is raising the country’s risk profile among investors and weighing down already sluggish economic growth, theInternational Monetary Fund said. “The prolonged election period has increased risks for investors and traders,” Jan Mikkelsen, the Washington-based lender’s new resident representative in Kenya, said in an emailed response to questions. “This in turn has led to a slowdown in economic activity.” The IMF has lowered its 2017 economic growth forecast for…

IMF Sees No `Substantive’ Zambian Aid-Deal Talks This Month

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LUSAKA (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Zambian government and the International Monetary Fund won’t be holding meaningful discussions on a proposed $1.3-billion aid program at the Washington-based lender’s annual meetings this month after talks were put on hold in August. The nation’s Eurobond yields climbed. “IMF staff will be meeting the Zambian delegation at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings to discuss next steps,” Alfredo Baldini, the fund’s resident representative in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, said in reply…

Ethiopia plans to offer firms shares in road projects

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ADDIS ABABA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ethiopia plans to offer shares in its road-building and maintenance projects to private investors, its finance minister said on Tuesday, the latest step to open up and modernize the state-led economy. The Horn of Africa country has over 113,000 kilometres (68,0000 miles) of paved roads and plans to increase that to 220,000 kilometres by 2019/20, official data showed. “We do not have private-run roads. Through public-private partnerships, the…

Ghana Oil Boon Not Enough to Plug Budget Hole as Prices Drop

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ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – A surge in Ghana’s oil output this year may do little to ease the West African nation’s fiscal strains as crude prices are lower than what it budgeted, eroding the gains from extra production. This year’s average Brent crude price of $52 a barrel is below the $56 forecast in the budget, which could complicate the state’s plans to narrow the fiscal deficit. Output is set to climb by more than…

IMF offers three-pillared prescription for African growth

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Countries in sub-Saharan Africa need to get their budgets in order, diversify their economies and look after their poorest people. If they do that, there is no reason why the region cannot have the strong growth needed to meet the aspirations of a young and growing population. That, at least, is the three-pillared prescription from the International Monetary Fund as expressed by one of its top Africa researchers, Celine…

Zambia Seeks IMF Deal of as Much as $1.6 Billion This Month

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LUSAKA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, plans to reach an aid deal for as much as $1.6 billion with the International Monetary Fund by the end of April, Finance Minister Felix Mutati said. Bond yields fell. “At the moment we know that we can get up to $1.6 billion — if you ask me, I’d go for the maximum,” he said in an interview Monday in the capital, Lusaka. “Hopefully the program…

Ivory Coast to Receive IMF Budget Support as Cocoa Slumps

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ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ivory Coast will receive additional assistance from the International Monetary Fund to support its 2017 budget after cocoa prices slumped, hurting the finances of the biggest grower of the crop. The IMF’s board will meet in June to decide on the amount of support, Dan Ghura, the Washington-based lender’s mission chief, told reporters late Wednesday in the commercial capital, Abidjan. The assistance will come as the IMF visited the West…

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