Statement by the IMF Staff Representative

The draft 2004 budget passed by the assembly is consistent with the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). Achieving the programmed strengthening of the tax effort remains a challenge. On the expenditure side, the aim is to improve the anti-poverty and pro-growth orientation of public spending. The operating surplus of state enterprises is improved in 2004. The stance of monetary policy is appropriate, as evidenced by the continued achievement of the program objectives for Net International Reserves (NIR) and inflation (in the context of the crawling peg regime).