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IMF mission to monitor Belarussian economy

Experts will monitor the country’s economic policy in 2011, analyze the current situation and assess prospects for Belarus’ economic development for 2012

MINSK, February 22 (Itar-Tass) — The International Monitory Fund on Wednesday starts its monitoring mission led by Chris Jarvis to Belarus, the IMF office in Belarus said.

Experts will monitor the country’s economic policy in 2011, analyze the current situation and assess prospects for Belarus’ economic development for 2012.

Local experts say the IMF mission will pay special attention to changes in Belarus’ economy that occur soon after the republic got significant preferences for gas imports from Russia.

Moreover, the Belarusian authorities at the talks with IMF experts will most probably request the IMF to consider a new loan for the republic.

Already last May the republic’s government and the National Bank of Belarus asked the IMF to extend a loan equaling from $3.5 billion to $8 billion for three-five years.

At the same time the National Bank’s head, Nadezhda Yermakova, said in January that Belarus would continue negotiations on a new credit program and will request the IMF to restructure its debt exceeding $3.5 billion.