Mr. Hans Weisfeld (Deputy Division Chief), and Mr. Vladimir Klyuev (Deputy Unit Chief in the IMF’s Strategy, Policy, and Review Department)

will present  the latest IMF Report on:

“Macroeconomic Developments and Prospects in Low-Income Developing

Countries”

The report covers recent macroeconomic developments in low-income developing countries (LIDCs), the outlook and the risks. It examines the implications of the decline in commodity, and particularly fuel, prices as well as adjustment policies, concluding that the adjustment has been largely incomplete. It considers the differential effect of the terms-of-trade shocks on fuel exporters, non-fuel commodity exporters, and diversified exporters. A multi-faceted risk analysis identifies macroeconomic vulnerabilities, financial stresses, and fiscal risks. The report also draws lessons from the IMF’s extensive technical assistance to LIDCs to highlight weaknesses in banking sector regulation and supervision. A thematic chapter explores the modes of provision and financing of infrastructure in LIDCs, the evolution of public investment (the main source of infrastructure), the obstacles to greater private sector involvement in infrastructure provision and financing, and the ways to improve infrastructure in LIDCs.