The International Monetary Fund mission that came to Moldova will assess fiscal aspects, the medium-term expenditure estimate, the 2018 budget and the macroeconomic forecasts as well as the developments in the financial-banking and energy sectors. The subject was discussed by the head of the IMF mission Ben Kelmanson and Prime Minister Pavel Filip in a meeting, IPN reports.

According to the Government’s press service, Ben Kelmanson welcomed the developments witnessed by the Government in the recent period and encouraged the authorities to keep up the speed of achieving results.

For his part, Pavel Filip said that since the last assessment mission that took place five months ago, positive developments were seen in the macroeconomic secrtor. The economic growth in nine months of 2017 was 3.8%. Exports rose by 18.6%, including to the EU by 20.5%. A new shareholder joined Victoriabank and a potential investor in Moldova-Agroindbank appeared. The investor that will help build the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline that will contribute to increasing the country’s energy security was identified.

“All these things wouldn’t have been possible if the Republic of Moldova hadn’t had a program with the IMF. The imposed conditions made us move on in doing reforms,” stated the Premier, adding that the 2019 state budget law is to be adopted by the end of the current session of Parliament.

Moldova’s three-year program with the IMF was approved on November 7, 2016. This is financed with a loan of US$ 187 million, US$ 83 million of which has been allocated.

The IMF mission will be in Moldova during March 15-27, 2018.