South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has highlighted the growing influence of private lenders in emerging markets, citing their role in exacerbating the debt crisis. He noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have a crucial role to play in reducing borrowing costs for these countries. As South Africa takes on its G20 presidency, Godongwana sees an opportunity to address the debt crisis by promoting more affordable borrowing options for emerging markets.
https://africanews.com/2025/01/09/what-is-at-stake-for-african-sovereign-debt-in-2025-business-africa/The Sri Lankan government has been under pressure to meet its commitments as part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. The programme requires the government to provide a livelihood to people, reduce their economic burden and cut government expenses. However, it appears that the government is struggling to honour these commitments.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40341700/current-tax-slabs-prohibitive-but-imf-commitments-will-be-honoured-says-pmThe federal government of a country is struggling to implement its strategic vision due to financial constraints and a lack of autonomy in economic decision-making. The government has been forced to seek financial assistance from friendly nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which comes with conditions that exacerbate economic hardships for the populace. This dependency undermines the sovereignty of economic decision-making, making it difficult for the government to implement its vision or pursue independent policy priorities. The success of the country's Vision 2025 will depend on a unified approach among all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, the private sector, and the military establishment, to achieve shared goals and objectives.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40341560/vision-2025-futility-or-progressFinance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb revealed that Pakistan had committed to cutting off gas supply to captive power plants under a 2021 agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but it was not implemented by the previous government. The IMF deal would be implemented in its true letter and spirit, and the targets of the Uraan Pakistan programme would be met without compromising on macroeconomic fundamentals. This statement sparked a heated debate between PTI senators Shibli Faraz and Aurangzeb, with Senator Faraz questioning why those who ruled for over 40 years should not also be held accountable. The Senate panel also discussed the issue of the interim CEO of EXIM Bank and the export refinance scheme, which would be phased out under the IMF programme.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1269501-pakistan-committed-to-imf-gas-supply-to-cpps-would-be-cut-off-ministerThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculates the adequacy of emerging markets' reserves using a formula that includes 30% of short-term external debt, 15% of other external liabilities, 5% of broad money (M2), and 5% of annual exports. According to this metric, South Korea's reserves fell to 97% in 2022, below the IMF's recommended range of 100-150%.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-01-06/opinion/columns/Falling-exchange-reserves-invite-another-financial-crisis/2215537The International Monetary Fund predicts that China's economy will grow by 4.8 percent this year and 4.5 percent next year. Recent stimulus measures appear to be taking effect, as indicated by a third consecutive month of expansion in manufacturing activity, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reaching 50.1 in December. The non-manufacturing PMI also rose to 52.2 in December, driven by growth in the services and construction sectors. According to Gabriel Ng of Capital Economics, increased policy support has provided a near-term boost to growth, with export orders rising to a four-month high in December, likely due to US importers stockpiling goods ahead of potential tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that the Philippine economy holds significant potential, but requires comprehensive and ordered structural reforms to unlock it. The IMF made this assessment following a recent annual consultation with local authorities, as outlined in their 2024 Staff Report.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/02/business/top-business/reforms-needed-to-unlock-ph-potential/2029136