The Minister of Economy, Adama Coulibaly

Due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the combined seventh (7th) and eighth (8th) reviews for the assessment of the Economic and Financial Program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Facility Credit ( MEDC ), for the period 2016-2020 will be held by video conference from September 15 to October 1, 2020 between representatives of Côte d'Ivoire and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) team in charge of the file Ivorian

We learn that the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) has marked its satisfaction with Côte d'Ivoire's budget deficit below 3% despite Covid-19.

the exchanges will focus on subjects already discussed during previous missions, namely, among others, the execution of the 2019-2020 program and budget, including the 2020 amending finance law; the financial situation of public enterprises, including the energy sector and social security funds; the 2021 fiscal outlook, including tax reform measures; the Government's Social Program; and the implementation of the economic response plan to Covid-19. Finally, Minister Adama Coulibaly wished to salute the achievements of the program since 2016, marked in particular by the improvement of the business climate and governance, and the creation of the budgetary leeway needed for public investment.

For her part, speaking from Washington, Ms. Céline Allard said that her wish was to be, with her team, in Côte d'Ivoire as part of this IMF mission, but the circumstances due to the coronavirus did not. allowed. "We are going to do everything possible so that this mission can take place under the same conditions as if we were in Abidjan", she however assured.

The head of the IMF mission also stressed that this is the last review of this program which was extended for one year last December. Initially, she recalled, the objectives of the said program were broken down into three areas: macroeconomic stability centered on anchoring in the convergence of budgetary criteria within WAEMU, balanced and sustainable debt management in a preserve a moderate risk of over-indebtedness and a whole set of structural reforms with a view to improving the business climate.