IMF Staff Completes Review Visit to Rwanda

November 10, 2017

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

• The IMF team reached preliminary agreement with the government on policies that could support completion of the eighth and third reviews of Rwanda’s PSI- and SCF-supported programs.
• Growth in 2017 is expected to be 5.2 percent, well above growth averages for sub-Saharan Africa and an acceleration in the medium term will lead to average growth above 7 percent over the next three years.
• Headline inflation declined below the central bank’s 5 percent headline target as food supply constraints and depreciation pressures receded, after peaking in early 2017.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Laure Redifer, visited Rwanda from October 25-November 8, 2017, to discuss economic policies that could support the completion of the eighth and third reviews of Rwanda’s PSI and SCF-supported programs.

At the end of the visit, Ms. Redifer issued the following statement:

“The IMF team reached preliminary agreement with the government, subject to approval by IMF management and its Executive Board, on policies that could support completion of the eighth and third reviews of Rwanda’s PSI- and SCF-supported programs, respectively. The Executive Board is expected to consider the reviews in January 2018.

“The team highlighted that Rwanda’s economy continues to perform well, with strong implementation of its IMF-supported programs. Due to a combination of factors (drought, completion of large construction projections, and policy adjustment to address external imbalances), growth decelerated over the second half of 2016 and in early 2017. The team projects a gradual growth recovery during the second half of 2017, owing to good rains and expanding domestic production. Overall, growth in 2017 is expected to be 5.2 percent, which is still well above growth averages for sub-Saharan Africa. A growth acceleration in the medium term will lead to average growth above 7 percent over the next three years. After peaking in early 2017, headline inflation declined to well below the central bank’s 5 percent headline target as food supply constraints and depreciation pressures receded. By end year, inflation is expected to remain below 5 percent.

“Rwanda’s external trade deficit contracted over the past 18 months, following a strong improvement in exports of goods and a modest reduction in imports. These developments were partly in response to decisive government policies; in particular, greater exchange rate flexibility, public spending restraint and prudent monetary policy. In addition, the government implemented a “Made in Rwanda” policy to encourage domestic production of certain goods (cement, rice). These efforts have led to an accumulation of foreign exchange reserves through end August.

“Recent gains in revenue mobilization have tapered off owing to the growth slowdown, tax incentives, and the implementation of the EAC restrictions on used clothing. To reestablish a rising trend in the tax revenue ratio to GDP, the mission encouraged passage of income and property tax laws as soon as possible, and analysis of the effectiveness of various tax incentives.

“The IMF-supported programs are on track, with end-June targets met and most structural benchmarks on track. The programs are scheduled to expire in December 2017, and the authorities are expected to request a one-year extension of the PSI-supported program.

“The team met with Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete; Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa; Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Gerardine Mukeshimana; and other senior government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, and development partners. The team thanks the various interlocutors for the collaborative and fruitful discussions.”