The 2008 Article IV Consultation with Dominica discusses external competitiveness and key policy issues. The real effective exchange rate is broadly in line with macroeconomic fundamentals. Fiscal policy is appropriately focused on reducing high public debt. Plans for developing the tourist sector, including improving air access and roads to tourist attractions, are well advanced and should be financed with a view maintaining the sustainability of public debt. The authorities rightly emphasize improving the business climate, strengthening regulation and supervision of the financial sector, and improving disaster preparedness.

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Dominican Republic's economy has been adversely affected by the global crisis. Output has been below potential as real GDP growth is decelerating rapidly from more than 5 percent in 2008 to an estimated 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent in 2009. Monetary authorities have responded to the crisis in a timely manner. The authorities’ program aims to limit the effects of the global slowdown on the economy while establishing the conditions for robust and sustainable growth.

Strong economic fundamentals helped Panama contain the adverse impact of the global economic downturn and financial turmoil. The 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that real GDP of Panama in 2008 grew by 9.2 percent. Panama’s large banking system has weathered the global financial crisis relatively well. Executive Directors have noted that Panama is facing the global economic crisis from a position of strength. Directors have also commended the authorities for the fiscal consolidation of recent years and the associated rapid decline in the public debt-to-GDP ratio.

The Dominican economy has been more resilient to the global crisis than other ECCU countries. Executive Directors welcomed the Growth and Social Protection Strategy, which is aimed at fostering growth and reducing poverty while lowering public debt. Directors also welcomed the authorities’ regional approach to address the collapse of the Trinidad and Tobago-based CL Financial Group. They encouraged the authorities to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to respond to external shocks. Directors commended the prudent fiscal policy stance and stressed the importance of strengthening the financial sector.

This paper examines the Maldives’ 2009 Article IV Consultation on economic developments and policies. The Maldivian economy is facing large external and fiscal imbalances, resulting from the severe impact of the global financial crisis and exacerbated by an unsustainable fiscal expansion. The global crisis has led to sharp declines in tourism and related investment, other net capital flows, and exports. This has caused a significant fall in fiscal revenue, compounding a large increase in public spending, and pushed the economy into recession. A rising share of the resulting fiscal deficit has been financed by monetization.

The Kyrgyz Republic has overcome some complex challenges to now have one of the most open economies in Central Asia. The country has improved its per capita income and living standards and is on the threshold of becoming a lower-middle-income economy. Looking ahead, the main challenge for the Kyrgyz Republic is to build on these successes to stimulate stronger, more broad-based economic growth. This book identifies the economic and governance reforms needed within key sectors to drive this growth. It provides policy suggestions to enhance the country’s trade, agriculture, tourism, finance, information and communications technology, energy, transport and logistics, and human capital.