‘SL harnessing post-conflict DIVIDENDS’
Text of speech by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister International
Monetary Cooperation at IMF/WB Sessions, October 2012 held in Tokyo,
Japan
The weakened economic position in advanced economies has posed
daunting challenges to the entire international community.
Intensification of the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area, continued
sluggish growth in advanced economies, and weakened domestic demand in
emerging market economies is clearly seen. In addition, it is my view
that lack of a clear strategy and policies to rebuild the much needed
confidence in economic prospects, especially in advanced economies, is
largely responsible for the sluggish recovery in the global economy.
It is also important to be vigilant on downside risks such as further
escalation of euro area crisis, outcome of the so called fiscal cliff in
the US, heightened geo-political uncertainties in certain regions and
further rise in commodity prices, including oil prices. It is also
important to ensure that strategies adopted to stimulate these economies
would not impose an unwarranted burden on emerging and low income
countries. However, we are encouraged by the continued efforts made by
the crisis hit euro area countries to address immediate issues.
Global economy
We welcome the commitment shown by the IMF for quota and governance
reform as agreed by the Board of Governors. This includes the
comprehensive review of the quota formula by January 2013 and the
completion of the Fifteenth General Review of Quotas by January 2014. We
believe that this reform would better reflect the growing role of
emerging and developing countries while enhancing the voice and
representation of the poor, small and vulnerable states.
It is important that the new formula would lead to an increase in the
calculated and actual quota shares of emerging and developing countries
in line with their relative positions in the world economy.
Let me now briefly highlight developments in my own country. Sri
Lanka continues to harness the dividends of ending a 30 year long
conflict in 2009. Despite a difficult global and domestic environment,
the Sri Lankan economy grew by 7.1 percent in the first half of 2012
following two consecutive years of robust growth of over 8 percent. The
moderation of the growth in 2012 is due the weakening global economy, in
particular the US and the euro region, our major trading partners, which
has adversely affected the demand for our exports.
On the domestic front, coordinated policy action by the government
and the Central Bank during the first quarter of 2012 to address
emerging imbalances in certain sectors of the economy caused by high
credit growth and a widened trade deficit, has had some impact on the
growth momentum. Considering the developments so far in the global and
domestic environment and the outlook for the rest of the year, the
economy is projected to grow at around 7 percent in 2012.
Prudent demand management policies as well as supply side
improvements enabled Sri Lanka to maintain inflation at single digit
levels for over three years from February 2009. Inflation gradually
edged up in recent months after declining to a low level of 2.7 percent
in February 2012, mainly due to the upward adjustment of several
administratively determined prices, including petroleum, electricity and
public transport. Core inflation continues to remain broadly within
targeted levels.
To rein in possible demand driven inflationary pressures arising from
high credit and monetary expansion, the Central Bank tightened its
monetary policy stance by raising policy interest rates. In addition,
with a view to bring about a more rapid curtailment of credit growth, in
March 2012, the Central Bank called for all licensed banks to restrict
their credit growth. These measures are yielding the desired outcome.
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Apparel
industry brings significant foreign revenue |
The government has expressed its strong commitment to fiscal
consolidation. Fiscal policy in 2012 was based on fiscal consolidation
as articulated in the Medium Term Macro Fiscal Framework (MTMFF) with a
further reduction in the overall budget deficit to 6.2 percent of GDP
from 6.9 percent of GDP in 2011. Fiscal consolidation is mainly expected
through increasing government revenue, rationalizing recurrent
expenditure and maintaining public investment at a level to support high
economic growth in the medium term. Nevertheless, maintaining fiscal
targets during 2012 is challenging amidst slowing economic activities.
Foreign direct investment
The external sector of the economy has been improving, benefiting
from policy measures adopted by the Central Bank and the Government.
Policy reforms were mainly aimed at reducing the widening trade deficit
and improving export competitiveness, while attracting capital inflows
by enhancing investor confidence and relaxing exchange control
regulations. The improvement in the trade account as well as a healthy
growth in workers’ remittances and higher earnings from tourism coupled
with inflows to the capital and financial account, including foreign
direct investment and proceeds from the fifth Sovereign Bond issue
helped the BOP record a surplus by end August 2012. As a result, the
gross official reserves increased and now stand at over US dollars 7
billion.
I am delighted to note that Sri Lanka’s accomplishments in reducing
unemployment and poverty has been remarkable. Unemployment and poverty
rates are steadily coming down reflecting the success of the
government’s high emphasis on inclusive and broad-based growth.
During the first quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate was estimated
to have declined to 4.0 percent. The poverty level, as measured by the
head count poverty index, declined rapidly to 8.9 percent in 2010 from
15.2 percent in 2006.
We have already achieved the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in
relation to reducing poverty.
Reconstruction activities
The implementation of various infrastructure development projects at
national, regional and rural levels including rehabilitation and
reconstruction activities in the conflict affected Northern and Eastern
provinces, creation of self-employment opportunities and increased
economic activities have contributed to the steady decline in
unemployment and poverty in the country. We recognize the support
extended by bilateral and multilateral development partners on various
projects that helped realize these achievements.
I am pleased to place in record the successful completion of the
IMF-SBA facility in July 2012. The completion of the SBA marks the
longest engagement Sri Lanka has had with the Fund and the single
largest facility Sri Lanka has ever obtained from a multilateral
institution.
The facility helped Sri Lanka strengthen its macro-economic
stability, enhance investor confidence and implement important
structural changes that are required for sustained economic growth.
While I take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved in
the successful completion of the SBA, we look forward to continued close
engagements with the IMF.
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