IMF Executive Board Concludes 2023 Article IV Consultation with Sweden

Following the pandemic, Sweden’s economy experienced a strong recovery, which continued well into 2022. GDP growth is projected at around 3 percent in 2022. The labor market improved, while general labor shortages persisted. A higher budget surplus is expected for 2022. Inflationary pressures intensified in 2022 despite several monetary policy actions. Strong borrowing by households and real estate firms fueled price and value growth, with both house prices and total household debt in relation to income peaking in end-2021. House prices started to decline in the second half of 2022. Commercial real estate (CRE) companies took on more debt, with the sector becoming highly concentrated.

Trinidad and Tobago: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2023 Article IV Mission

Economic activity is recovering. Real GDP is estimated to have expanded by 2.5 percent in 2022, supported by the non-energy sector which was partially offset by an unexpected weak performance of the energy sector. Inflation increased, reaching 8.7 percent by end-2022, driven by imported energy and food prices, partial liberalization of domestic fuel prices in 2022, and domestic floodings. Banks’ credit to the private sector is recovering and the banking sector appears well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable. The current account surplus expanded, and foreign reserves coverage remained adequate at 7.6 months of prospective total imports.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: African Development Bank consults civil society to assess financial inclusion needs of forcibly displaced people.

The African Development Bank, on 28 February 2023 in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, held a consultation meeting with some 20 civil society organizations to evaluate the financial inclusion needs of forcibly displaced people in that country.

World Bank president nominee, Ajay Banga, pledges to partner with African Development Bank for transformative results

United States’ nominee for World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga began his global tour on Monday, with his first stop in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire where he met African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, senior management and the Board of Directors.