Benin: 2012 Article IV Consultation and Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement-Informational Annex
Author:
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
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Publication Date:
11 Jan 2013
eISBN:
9781475592917
Language:
English
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; debt; current account; real GDP; deficit; governance framework; balance of payments statistics; financial asset; SDR equivalent; exchange arrangement; Real sector statistics; Government finance statistics; Balance of payments statistics; Monetary statistics; West Africa
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Benin has made significant progress in consolidating macroeconomic stability under the IMF-supported program. Its prudent fiscal policy has kept fiscal deficits at manageable levels and is projected to yield a basic primary surplus in 2012. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested that the authorities hold current expenditures to provide space for infrastructure spending and meet medium-term fiscal objectives. Benin’s authorities are committed to maintain sound macroeconomic policies, pursue the implementation of critical structural reforms, and take further measure to achieve program objectives.

Abstract

Benin has made significant progress in consolidating macroeconomic stability under the IMF-supported program. Its prudent fiscal policy has kept fiscal deficits at manageable levels and is projected to yield a basic primary surplus in 2012. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested that the authorities hold current expenditures to provide space for infrastructure spending and meet medium-term fiscal objectives. Benin’s authorities are committed to maintain sound macroeconomic policies, pursue the implementation of critical structural reforms, and take further measure to achieve program objectives.

I. Relations With the Fund

(As of August 31, 2012)

I. Membership Status: Joined: July 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 2

(SDR Million; based on existing use of resources and present holdings of SDRs):

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VII. Implementation of HIPC Initiative:

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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 cannot be added.

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.

VIII. Implementation of Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI):

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The MDRI provides 100 percent debt relief to eligible member countries that qualified for the assistance. Grant assistance from the MDRI Trust and HIPC resources provide debt relief to cover the full stock of debt owed to the Fund as of end-2004 that remains outstanding at the time the member qualifies for such debt relief.

Decision point - point at which the IMF and the World Bank determine whether a country qualifies for assistance under the HIPC Initiative and decide on the amount of assistance to be committed.

Interim assistance - amount disbursed to a country during the period between decision and completion points, up to 20 percent annually and 60 percent in total of the assistance committed at the decision point (or 25 percent and 75 percent, respectively, in exceptional circumstances).

Completion point - point at which a country receives the remaining balance of its assistance committed at the decision point, together with an additional disbursement of interest income as defined in footnote 2 above. The timing of the completion point is linked to the implementation of pre-agreed key structural reforms (i.e., floating completion point).

IX. Implementation of Post-Catastrophe Debt Relief (PCDR):

Not Applicable.

X. Safeguards Assessments:

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) is a common central bank of the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAMU). The most recent safeguards assessment of the BCEAO was completed on March 1, 2010. The 2010 update assessment found that the BCEAO continues to have controls in place at the operational level. The overall governance framework needed nonetheless to be strengthened by the addition of an audit committee to ensure that the Board of Directors exercises appropriate oversight over the control structure, including the audit mechanisms and financial statements. Such committee was established after the completion of the assessment following the Institutional Reform of the WAMU and the BCEAO. Efforts to implement fully the International Financial Reporting Standards reporting framework should also be pursued.

XI. Exchange Arrangement:

Benin is a member of the WAEMU and has no separate legal tender. The union’s common currency, the CFA franc, is pegged to the Euro at a rate of CFAF 655.957 = EUR 1, consistent with the official conversions rate of the French franc to the Euro and the previous fixed rate of the CFA franc to the French franc of CFAF 100= F 1. Effective January 1, 2007, the exchange arrangement of the WAEMU countries has been reclassified to the category of conventional pegged arrangement from the category of exchange arrangement with no separate legal tender. The new classification is based on the behavior of the common currency, whereas the previous classification was based on the lack of a separate legal tender. The new classification thus only reflects a definitional change, and is not based on a judgment that there has been a substantive change in the exchange regime or other policies of the currency union or its members. The exchange system common to all member countries of the WAEMU is free of restrictions on payments and transfers for current international transactions subject to Fund jurisdiction.

XII. Article IV Consultations:

The last completed Article IV consultation discussions were held in Cotonou during March 10–26, 2010. The staff report (Country Report No. 10/195; 5/27/10) and selected issues paper were discussed by the Executive Board, and the 2010 Article IV consultation concluded, on June 14, 2010.

XIII. ROSC Assessment:

A Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) mission conducted the fiscal module of a Report on Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) in May 2001. The mission recommended the adoption of a three-year action plan containing measures to improve expenditure management. The mission also identified a list of actions to be taken quickly to ensure that the authorities were able to monitor budget execution. The ROSC fiscal transparency module for Benin was circulated to the Board on June 6, 2002 (Country Report No. 02/217). In 2009, the World Bank conducted an Accounting and Auditing ROSC, for which the report was published on April 18, 2009.

XIV. Technical Assistance for the Last Five Years:

A. Headquarters

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B. Afritac West

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XV. Resident Representative:

Mr. Farah assumed his position in Cotonou as Resident Representative on June 20, 2011.

II. Joint World Bank-Imf Work Program, 2012–13

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III. Statistical Issues

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Benin: Table of Common Indicators Required for Surveillance

(As of September 30, 2012)

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Any reserve assets that are pledged or otherwise encumbered should be specified separately. Also, data should comprise short-term liabilities linked to a foreign currency but settled by other means as well as the notional values of financial derivatives to pay and to receive foreign currency, including those linked to a foreign currency but settled by other means.

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

Foreign, domestic bank, and domestic nonbank 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 position vis-à-vis nonresidents.

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

1

Formerly PRGF.

2

When a member has overdue financial obligations outstanding for more than three months the amount of such arrears will be shown in this section.

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Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Benin: 2012 Article IV Consultation and Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement—Staff Report; Staff Supplements; Public Information Notice and Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Benin
Author:
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2013: Issue 009
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund
ISBN:
9781475592917
ISSN:
1934-7685
Pages:
146
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475592917.002