logo
IMF reaches agreement under first review of $1.4 billion El Salvador program

IMF reaches agreement under first review of $1.4 billion El Salvador program

Reuters6 days ago

May 27 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday it had reached an agreement with El Salvador to disburse about $120 million, following the first review of a $1.4 billion 40-month program.
The disbursement is subject to approval by the IMF executive board.
In February, the IMF approved the $1.4 billion extended fund facility arrangement for El Salvador.
"Most program targets set for the first review were comfortably met, and implementation of the structural benchmarks is progressing well," the IMF said in a statement.
In March, the country separately secured a $500 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to shore up its budget.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

IMF approves $1.5 billion, 2-year flexible line of credit for Costa Rica
IMF approves $1.5 billion, 2-year flexible line of credit for Costa Rica

Reuters

time4 hours ago

  • Reuters

IMF approves $1.5 billion, 2-year flexible line of credit for Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Monday said it had approved a $1.5 billion, two-year precautionary flexible line of credit for Costa Rica, saying it would enhance Costa Rica's external buffers against potential risks. In a statement, the IMF said its Flexible Credit Line arrangements were reserved for countries with very strong policy frameworks and track records in economic performance. "The arrangement is intended to send a very clear signal of the quality of the country's very strong policies and institutional frameworks," it said. The IMF said Costa Rican authorities planned to treat the arrangement as precautionary, for use if future external shocks materialized, and could request reduced access in the future if external risks were to decline. IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said Costa Rica had an impressive reform track record which had spurred economic growth, reduced public debt, and lowered poverty. But the country was vulnerable to increased external risks, including a prolonged increase in global uncertainty, slower growth in major trading partners, tighter global financial conditions, and higher oil prices. The IMF last month said Costa Rica's growth was expected to ease to around 3.5% in 2025 and inflation was expected to return to the central bank's target of 3%.

Panama removes over 650 ships from registry amid sanctions, stricter rules
Panama removes over 650 ships from registry amid sanctions, stricter rules

Reuters

time7 hours ago

  • Reuters

Panama removes over 650 ships from registry amid sanctions, stricter rules

PANAMA CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - Panama's Maritime Authority has removed from its registry more than 650 vessels since 2019 as part of an effort to fulfill U.S. sanctions and enforce stricter rules for the ships it flags, it said on Monday. A total of 214 vessels have been withdrawn from Panama's registry, among the world's largest with more than 8,500 ships, since it began implementing measures last year allowing it to act faster to help enforce sanctions, the authority added. Ships cannot sail under Panama's flag once they are removed from its registry. Panama responded to criticism by non-governmental organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which last week said Panama had not taken sufficient action against sanction violators and asked it to "immediately cease facilitating Iran's illicit oil trade" and withdraw its flag from all tankers carrying Iranian oil. According to UANI, nearly one in five vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil sails under Panama's flag. "This is not just a failure of Panama's registry. It's a direct threat to global sanctions compliance and regional and U.S. security," it said. Panama in 2019 signed an agreement with other flag countries including Liberia and Marshall Islands to exchange information about vessels whose registrations were canceled or rejected due to potential sanction violations. It also began implementing measures against ships that deliberately turn off their transponders to avoid tracking. In May, the authority said it would reinforce controls for ship-to-ship operations by Panama-flagged vessels, following an increase in the use of "dark-fleet" tankers to skirt sanctions or evade environmental requirements. The U.S. has increased pressure on countries with large vessel registries to help enforce sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the expansion of a dark fleet of tankers moving sanctioned oil and threatened to take over the Panama Canal. The Central American nation is collaborating with the United States on its registry, the authority said in its press release.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store