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Business and Economics > Finance: General

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 15 items for :

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  • Solomon Islands x
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Cover Policy Papers
Thirteenth Periodic Monitoring Report on The Status of Management Implementation Plans in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations
International Monetary Fund. Office of Internal Audit
Overall, progress has been made since the Twelfth PMR on actions in response to eight IEO evaluations, with the pace of implementation being faster on actions October 31, 2023 THIRTEENTH PERIODIC MONITORING REPORT 2 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contained in the MIP in Response to the Executive Board-Endorsed Categorization of Open Actions in Management Implementation Plans. It is also worth mentioning that many open actions depend on the implementation of some important reviews/key steps that are expected to be completed in or soon after December 2023, such as the Capacity Development (CD) Strategy Review, the issuance of a new CD Guidance Note, an update of the Small Developing States Staff Guidance Note (SDS-SGN), the Operational Guidance Note (OGN) on Program Design and Conditionality, and a Board paper on Bank-Fund collaboration.
Keywords:
IEO evaluation; transparency policy; IEO recommendation; strategy review; Thirteenth PMR; Institutional View on capital flows; Capital flows; COVID-19; Capital account; Global; East Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Caribbean; Pacific Islands
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Solomon Islands: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
This 2023 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economy is recovering from multiple shocks in the past three years, but the recovery is still fragile in the Solomon Islands. Near-term fiscal policy should focus on prudent execution of the 2023 budget, followed by rebuilding of the government’s cash balance. Prudent management of public investment projects including their financing arrangements is an urgent priority. The current exchange rate regime remains appropriate, but a timely review of the currency basket is called for, given changes in trade patterns. Solomon Islands’ external position in 2022 is assessed to be substantially weaker than the level consistent with medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies. Developing new growth drivers, including by enhancing natural resource wealth management, market regulation, and addressing governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities, is an urgent priority. The IMF continues to support capacity development of the authorities in collaboration with development partners.
Keywords:
CBSI staff; liability positions vis-à-vis nonresident; CBSI approval; CBSI assessment; BOP unit; External sector statistics; Commercial banks; Global; Pacific Islands
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Solomon Islands: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Solomon Islands
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
Strong and timely containment measures have successfully prevented a domestic COVID-19 outbreak but have also weighed on economic activity and aggravated pre-existing socio-economic tensions. Following a contraction in 2020, growth is projected to recover gradually starting this year and to gain strength as containment measures are relaxed and borders re-opened. Elevated pandemic-related uncertainties as well as longstanding social, economic and governance challenges and vulnerability to natural disasters pose headwinds to inclusive growth. Despite strong external buffers, weaker fiscal position increases vulnerability to shocks, while the decline in logging weighs on fiscal revenues and growth prospects.
Keywords:
IMF executive board staff; financing gap; CBSI data; COVID expenditure; land mass; COVID-19; External sector statistics; Pacific Islands; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Solomon Islands: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Solomon Islands
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
This 2019 Article IV Consultation with the Solomon Islands highlights that the country has made substantial progress since the Tensions in the early 2000s but faces considerable economic and governance challenges and is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Finding new sources of growth is becoming urgent with the decline in logging. The consultation focused on similar issues to last year—restoring fiscal buffers to build resilience, strengthening public financial management and public investment management, setting a medium-term fiscal strategy, improving governance, improving exchange rate management and building conditions for sustainable growth. The report recommends developing a holistic approach to medium-term fiscal policy by setting a realistic spending envelope and establishing a medium-term revenue strategy. Together with strengthened budget planning and expenditure control, this would provide greater budget predictability and support natural disaster contingency planning. It is also imperative to strengthen enforcement of governance standards, apply the mining fiscal regime rigorously, improve transparency and advance the anti-corruption agenda.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; center; authority; debt; government cash balance; CBSI data; liability positions vis-à-vis nonresident; Solomon Islands economy; expenditure reform; bank process; Natural disasters; Stress testing; Global; Pacific Islands; Asia and Pacific
Cover Departmental Papers
Strategy for Fintech Applications in the Pacific Island Countries
Sonja Davidovic
,
Ms. Elena Loukoianova
,
Cormac Sullivan
, and
Hervé Tourpe
The Bali Fintech Agenda highlights 12 principles for policymakers to consider when formulating their approaches to new financial technology (fintech). The agenda aims to harness the potential of fintech while managing associated risks. This paper looks at how some elements of the Bali Fintech Agenda could be used in Pacific island countries, which face significant financial-structural challenges.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; private sector; payment system; data protection; Pacific island countries; big data; credit scoring; financial system; business model; transaction costs; due diligence; feasibility study; capital investment; utility payment record; solar-panel-enabled payment device; payment development; payment history; customer data; identity system; Fintech; Financial inclusion; Mobile banking; Pacific Islands; Australia and New Zealand
Cover Policy Papers
Review of the Debt Sustainability Framework for Low Income Countries: Proposed Reforms
International Monetary Fund
The Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-income Countries (LIC DSF) has been the cornerstone of assessments of risks to debt sustainability in LICs. The framework classifies countries based on their assessed debt-carrying capacity, estimates threshold levels for selected debt burden indicators, evaluates baseline projections and stress test scenarios relative to these thresholds, and then combines indicative rules and staff judgment to assign risk ratings of external debt distress. The framework has demonstrated its operational value since the last review was conducted in 2012, but there are areas where new features can be introduced to enhance its performance in assessing risks. Against the backdrop of the evolving nature of risks facing LICs, both staff analysis and stakeholder feedback suggest gaps in the framework to be addressed. Complexity and lack of transparency have also been highlighted as causes for concern. This paper proposes a set of reforms to enhance the value of the LIC DSF for all users. In developing these reforms, staff has been guided by two over-arching principles: a) the core architecture of the DSF—model-based results complemented by judgment—remains appropriate; and b) reforms should ensure that the DSF maintains an appropriate balance by providing countries with early warnings of potential debt distress without unnecessarily constraining their borrowing for development.
Keywords:
PP; low income country; low income; annex; country; LIC DSF; debt distress; LIC authorities; debt limits policy; debt carrying capacity; Debt sustainability; Debt sustainability analysis; Stress testing; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Financing for Development: Enhancing the Financial Safety Net for Developing Countries---Further Considerations
International Monetary Fund
PRGT-eligible members make considerable use of Fund concessional financing. Since 2010, 56 percent of Fund arrangements have involved a PRGT-facility. This paper examines a number of issues raised by Executive Directors and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) since the issuance to the Board of the June 2015 staff paper on enhancing the financial safety net for developing countries (IMF, 2015a). This paper concludes that there is a need to clarify guidance in some areas pertaining to PRGT policies. This will be done through an early revision of the LIC Handbook, which is already underway. The paper does not propose changes to the Fund’s concessional facilities at this juncture. A comprehensive review of PRGT (Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust) resources and facilities is planned for 2018.
Keywords:
PP; PRGT resource; PRGT-eligible member; financial support; financing; fund; members to fund instrument; fund's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust; PRGT financing; Balance of payments need; Financial safety nets; Concessional external borrowing; Development assistance; Moral hazard; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Macroeconomic Developments and Selected Issues in Small Developing States
International Monetary Fund
This report builds on the work in the 2013 Board paper on Fund Engagement with Small States, the 2013 background papers on Asian and Pacific small states and Caribbean small states, and the 2014 staff guidance note. It provides a deeper analysis and policy recommendations in respect of three challenges identified in these papers. Looking ahead, the paper also analyses the impact and possible policy responses to two global economic trends—lower oil prices and diverse movements in major currencies.
Keywords:
PP; small states; exchange rate; real GDP; government spending; U.S. dollar; debt ceiling; Financial inclusion; Income; Pacific Islands; Global; Caribbean; Asia and Pacific; Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Solomon Islands: Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
KEY ISSUES Recent Developments and Outlook. Solomon Islands held its parliamentary elections on November 19, 2014 and elected a new government led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, representing the Democratic Coalition for Change. The country’s Gold Ridge mine, its only gold mine, remains closed and the chances of it re-opening are limited given current gold prices. At the same time, the logging industry is being adversely affected by the depletion of forestry resources. As a result, the near-term outlook has worsened. While lower oil prices constitute a windfall to consumers and producers, diversifying sources of growth and boosting the competitiveness of the economy are key to strengthening medium-term growth prospects. The risks to the outlook are to the downside. Program Performance. Performance under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement has been broadly satisfactory. Performance criteria for end-June 2014 were met by large margins. Indicative targets (ITs) for end September 2014 were also met, except for those on health and education spending, which were both narrowly missed in June and September 2014. Despite delays, the authorities have made progress in implementing the structural reform agenda. Policy Recommendations ? In the medium term, recalibrate ambitious spending plans in line with implementation capacity, revenue envelope, financing availability, and the need to preserve fiscal buffers for resilience against shocks given the serious setback in mining prospects linked to the closure of the only gold mine. ? Strengthen the quality of public spending and fiscal management by advancing Public Financial Management (PFM) reform, including improving the transparency and accountability in the use of constituency funds. ? Maintain the current monetary stance but stand ready to tighten policy if credit growth and inflationary pressures surge. ? Strengthen financial regulation and supervision, including supervision of the National Provident Fund, and improve private sector access to credit.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; ECF arrangement; government; vulnerabilities to shock; SDR; Solomon Islands government; reform effort; government value; Credit; Oil prices; Imports; Australia and New Zealand; Global; Caribbean; Asia and Pacific
Cover IMF Working Papers
The Pacific Speed of Growth: How Fast Can It Be and What Determines It?
Yongzheng Yang
,
Hong Chen
,
Shiu raj Singh
, and
Baljeet Singh
This study aims to test within a relatively homogeneous group of small states what differentiates the growth performance of Pacific island countries (PICs) from their peers. We find that PICs are disadvantaged by distance and hampered by lower investment and exports compared with other small island states, but greater political stability, catch-up effects from lower initial incomes, and slower population growth have helped offset some of these disadvantages. On balance, policy-related factors, together with geography-related disadvantages, have led to growth rates in PICs that are much lower than in other small states. We also examine how real exchange rate appreciation, unfavorable developments in the external trade environment, and rising international transport costs may have contributed to PICs’ slower growth over the past decade.
Keywords:
WP; financial crisis; PIC economy; economic recovery; PIC government; small states; Pacific island countries; growth; convergence; remoteness; volatility; aid; investment exports; trade pattern; growth rebound; growth performance; PIC growth rebound; PIC export; visitor arrival; Exports; Transportation; Real exchange rates; Imports; Competition; Global; Australia and New Zealand; Pacific Islands; Asia and Pacific