REPUBLIC OF CONGO First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Request for Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Modification of Performance Criteria—Informational Annex
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This paper focuses on the First Review for the Republic of Congo under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Policy implementation under the authorities’ PRGF arrangement through 2008 and the early part of 2009 was broadly satisfactory. The quantitative target on the non-oil primary fiscal balance was observed, but the authorities contracted new nonconcessional external debt. The authorities have also made progress in implementing many of the floating completion point triggers under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the First Review for the Republic of Congo under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Policy implementation under the authorities’ PRGF arrangement through 2008 and the early part of 2009 was broadly satisfactory. The quantitative target on the non-oil primary fiscal balance was observed, but the authorities contracted new nonconcessional external debt. The authorities have also made progress in implementing many of the floating completion point triggers under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

Annex I—Republic of Congo: Relations with the Fund

(As of April 30, 2009)

I. Membership Status: Joined: 07/10/1963; Article VIII

II. General Resources Account:

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III. SDR Department:

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IV. Outstanding Purchases and Loans

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V. Latest Financial Arrangements:

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VI. Projected Payments to Fund: (without HIPC assistance) (SDR million; based on existing use of resources and present holdings of SDRs):

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Projected Payments to Fund: (with Board-approved HIPC assistance) (SDR million; based on existing use of resources and present holdings of SDRs):

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VII. Implementation of HIPC Initiative:

The Republic of Congo reached the decision point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative in March 2006.

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VIII. Safeguards Assessments:

The Bank of the Central African States (BEAC) is the regional central bank of the Central African States. The most recent safeguards assessment of the BEAC was completed on August 30, 2004. In accordance with the four year cycle established for assessments of regional central banks, an update assessment was initiated in April 2008. The preliminary findings of this assessment indicate that implementation of previous safeguards recommendations on financial reporting, internal audit, and internal control has been limited, and that the changing risk profile of the BEAC foreign exchange holdings requires further actions to strengthen safeguards at the BEAC. Completion of the update assessment, however, requires an official response from the BEAC authorities that has yet to be received.

IX. Exchange Rate Arrangement:

Congo’s currency is the CFA franc, which is pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate of CFAF 655.957 = Euro 1. Congo does not impose any restrictions on the making of payments and transfers for current international transactions.

X. Article IV Consultations:

Consultations with Congo are on a 24-month cycle, based on the Board decision on consultation cycles in program countries. The 2008 consultation discussions and request for a new three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement were held in Brazzaville on May 21–30 and August 21–27, 2008. The staff report (www.imf.org) was considered by the Executive Board on December 8, 2008.

XI. FSAP Participation: N/A.

XII. Technical Assistance:

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XIII. Resident Representative:

The resident representative, Mr. Yaya Moussa, took up his assignment in September 2005.

Annex II—Republic of Congo: JMAP Implementation Matrix

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Annex III—Statistical Issues

1. Data provision has some shortcomings, but is broadly adequate for surveillance purposes. In the context of surveillance, long delays in the provision of national accounts, balance of payments and government finance statistics are particularly problematic. The statistical infrastructure is being slowly rebuilt after the civil strife of the late 90’s, during which administrative infrastructure suffered severe damage and many records were lost. Since October 2001, an STA multisector statistics advisor (MSA) has been assisting the authorities with the macroeconomic statistics.

2. A STA multi-sector mission in May 2002 conducted an assessment of the statistical system. The mission’s general finding was that macroeconomic statistics are weak and suffer from the absence of a national statistical program and shortages of financial, physical, and human resources. It recommended measures for improvement, which are being followed up by the statistical advisor.

3. The Republic of Congo participates in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) since November 5, 2003. However, the metadata posted on the Fund’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) has not been updated or certified since 2003.

Real sector statistics

4. National accounts data are weak, with inconsistencies, both internally and with balance of payments statistics. Estimates for the informal sector are based on information that dates back to 1978. The Directorate General of Statistics (DGS) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) provides Fund missions with a breakdown of GDP by expenditures and sectors, both in nominal and real terms. Historically, data on oil sector transactions have been weak, raising questions about transparency in the inter-play between the oil companies operating in the country and the government agencies dealing with them. With the assistance of the resident statistical expert and Central AFRITAC, the DGS completed the national accounts estimates for 2005, the new base year, and has initiated compilation of the 2006 accounts. A mission of the Central AFRITAC (AFC) visited Brazzaville during April 6–17, 2009 to assist in the analysis of main aggregates for the 2006 national accounts and train the national accounts team in synthesis of accounts.

5. Annual data on employment in the central government are available from the MoF, but are not consistent with data from the civil service roster of the Ministry of the Civil Service. As part of the structural reforms undertaken in the context of the post-conflict program, the government completed an audit of public service employees and established a new civil service payroll roster. Data on employment in the private sector are not available.

6. Movements in the prices of commodities consumed by households are recorded for the capital city of Brazzaville (weights for 1977 and price reference period of December 1977) and the second-largest city of Pointe Noire (price reference period of January 1996 and weights for 1989). Weights no longer reflect current household consumption patterns. Data are compiled on a monthly basis. The authorities intend to compile a CPI that is harmonized with other countries in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

Government finance statistics

7. Compilation of government finance statistics (GFS) has benefited from recent efforts to increase the comprehensiveness of the data through the adoption of systematic compilation practices. The increased interagency cooperation is in line with the recommendations of the May 2002 multisector mission, which recommended that systematic procedures be established for the compilation of government finance statistics, based, to the extent possible, on a unified set of accounting and administrative records using the GFSM 2001 classifications.

8. The Republic of Congo has reported (in September 2008) GFS data to STA for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 using the GFSM 2001 template, and indicate that data for 2006 and 2007 will be reported no later than June 2009. High-frequency fiscal data has not yet been reported for publication in IFS. The compilation of GFS statistics to be reported to the Fund should be carried out in close cooperation with the compilers of the TOFE.

9. Progress is underway to address these shortcomings. In February/March 2003, a FAD follow-up mission found that most of the recommendations of the 2001 FAD mission on expenditure management, in particular with regard to the centralization of all government revenue and execution of public expenditure through the budget, are being implemented, and steps have been taken to computerize expenditure chain accounting.

10. The Caisse congolaise d’amortissement (CCA) produces comprehensive data on the outstanding stock of external public debt, including arrears and their composition, together with detailed projections on debt service due. These data are provided to Fund missions. However, the debt-stock data cannot be reconciled with flow data in the balance of payments. The CCA also produces domestic debt data. Concerns still exist with regard to the reconciliation of fiscal and monetary statistics.

11. There is no centralized, comprehensive database on the operations of public enterprises. However, some information has been made available to Fund missions by individual enterprises. TOFE compilers do not have access to relevant financial statements of the Société nationale des pétroles congolais, which carries out several operations on behalf of the government (notably in the oil sector).

Monetary and financial statistics

12. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) regularly reports monetary, interest rates, and exchange rate statistics for publication in IFS, but delays occur sometimes in the submission of data to STA. The accuracy of national monetary statistics may be affected by large cross-border movements of BEAC issued banknotes among the CEMAC member countries. However, the Republic of Congo is moderately affected by such movements: 6.2 percent of banknotes issued in the Congo by the BEAC national directorate circulate in Cameroon and 1.2 percent in Gabon, while currency in circulation in the Republic of Congo includes 2.3 percent of banknotes from Cameroon and 3.2 percent from Gabon. The magnitude of banknote movements between the Republic of Congo and CEMAC member countries other than Cameroon and Gabon is very small.

13. In this regard, the BEAC started in mid-2007 a project to migrate monetary statistics of member countries of the CEMAC to the methodology in the Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual (MFSM). As a part of this project, a regional workshop was organized by the BEAC in December 2007 to finalize the mapping of source data from commercial banks to the MFSM concepts and framework. STA participated in this workshop to provide guidance and advice. Submission of data by the BEAC using the standardized report forms is pending.

External sector statistics

14. As in other CEMAC countries, the national agency of the BEAC is responsible for the collection and the dissemination of balance of payments statistics. The balance of payments statistics are prepared on an annual basis while the compilation system has been specifically designed to produce quarterly data. Since 1995, data are being prepared using the Balance of Payments Manual, Fifth Edition. The BEAC provides annual data on exports of goods and services and on capital flows other than public debt. Balance of payments data for 1995 through 2005 are published in the Fund’s International Financial Statistics (IFS), and STA is working with the authorities in updating the data series.

15. In May 2002, a technical assistance mission found the compilation system and procedures to be conceptually sound but flawed in their application due to the absence of documented sources and methods, understaffing, and insufficient training. This situation resulted in significant delays in the production of balance of payments statistics and, in general, poor monitoring of the quality of the input data provided by respondents. Furthermore, the opacity surrounding certain transactions in the oil sector introduces an important element of imprecision. In addition, net investment flows are overestimated by significant unrecorded disinvestment operations that are part of the tax regime arrangements obtained by oil-drilling nonresident companies. In February 2007, a follow-up STA balance of payments statistics mission made a number of recommendations aimed at improving institutional arrangements for balance of payments statistics compilation.

Republic of Congo: Table of Common Indicators Required for Surveillance

As of March 31, 2009

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Includes reserve assets pledged or otherwise encumbered as well as net derivative positions.

Both market-based and officially-determined, including discount rates, money market rates, rates on treasury bills, notes and bonds.

Foreign, domestic bank, and domestic non-bank financing.

The general government consists of the central government (budgetary funds, extra budgetary funds, and social security funds) and state and local governments.

Including currency and maturity composition.

Includes external gross financial asset and liability positions vis-à-vis nonresidents.

Daily (D), Weekly (W), Monthly (M), Quarterly (Q), Annually (A); Irregular (I); Not Available (NA).

1

Assistance committed under the original framework is expressed in net present value (NPV) terms at the completion point, and assistance committed under the enhanced framework is expressed in NPV terms at the decision point. Hence these two amounts can not be added.

2

Under the enhanced framework, an additional disbursement is made at the completion point corresponding to interest income earned on the amount committed at the decision point but not disbursed during the interim period.

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Republic of Congo: First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Request for Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Modification of Performance Criteria: Staff Report; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Congo
Author:
International Monetary Fund