MINSK, 7 October (BelTA) – A delegation from Belarus is on a visit to Washington on 5-7 October taking part in the annual autumn meeting of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian government.
The Belarusian delegation has comprised Belarus' First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank Pavel Kallaur, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Yevdochenko, First Deputy Finance Minister Maksim Yermolovich, First Deputy Economy Minister Alexander Zaborovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Bank Dmitry Kalechits.
“The Belarusian representatives held meetings and talks with the IMF and World Bank Group authorities and took part in the meetings of the Central and Eastern Europe group in the IMF and the Belgian group of the World Bank. The Belarusian delegation met with IMF Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhiro Furusawa, IMF Director of the European Department Poul Thomsen, IMF Mission Chief for Belarus Peter Dohlman to discuss the key economic measures aimed at securing macro-financial balance and structural reforms,” the press service informed.
The IMF representatives hailed progress made by the Belarusian government and the National Bank in the implementation of the economic policy. “The parties agreed to continue cooperation in the assessment of the economic situation and the preparation of the IMF program for Belarus,” the government stressed.
At the meetings with World Bank Vice President Cyril Muller and bank experts the parties discussed the support programs, including in the area of enhancing the competitive edge of the economy, public finance management, improvement of corporate governance in the public sector. The parties discussed the results and prospects of cooperation in the issues of building efficient systems of social protection, education and healthcare in Belarus. The World Bank will continue its wide consultative program.
“The meeting with Philip Bennett, First Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, was focused on the discussion of the possibility to implement new projects in Belarus with the EBRD participation. At the meeting with the Belarusian delegation Vice President of the International Finance Corporation Dimitris Tsitsiragos showed interest in expanding cooperation between the IFC and Belarus in line with the mandate of the organization and confirmed the intention of the corporation to increase the financing of foreign trade promotion programs” the press service said.
The Belarusian delegation also held a number of bilateral meetings with the U.S. government bodies and big banking structures. The parties discussed the development of the Belarusian-U.S. trade and economic relations, development of loan and investment cooperation.
The Belarusian delegation also met with investors, the main holders of the Belarusian securities to present the assessment of the current economic situation in Belarus.
