Photo: allAfrica.com Monrovia — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) have decided to support US$4.6 billion of debt relief for Liberia, of which US$1.5 billion is to be delivered by multilateral creditors and the remainder by bilateral and commercial creditors.
This was made possible in part by the exceptional efforts of members of the international community to finance debt relief for Liberia. The decisions by the Executive Boards of both institutions will reduce the stock of debt in present value terms by US$[2.9] billion, which includes US$[2.7] billion from the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and US$[223.8] million from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). Debt relief from the IMF will total US$730.0 million-the IMF's biggest ever HIPC contribution for a single country-and from the World Bank's IDA, US$375 million. As a result of this relief, Liberia will no longer face a heavy debt service burden in relation to its revenue and foreign exchange resources.
The Boards determined that Liberia has taken the necessary policy actions to reach the completion point, and therefore debt relief from both the HIPC Initiative and MDRI becomes irrevocable. Liberia has successfully implemented its poverty reduction strategy and maintained a stable macroeconomic environment, despite the global economic crisis.
"We welcome the concerted efforts made by Liberia to obtain this debt relief-this will help attract new investment and generate much needed opportunities," said Chris Lane, IMF mission chief for Liberia. "Liberia can now mobilize additional resources to rebuild the road network and the electricity supply system, providing the infrastructure needed to allow economic growth, while continuing to expand the health care and education systems. Liberia will also be able to further develop its own financial market and channel private savings to productive uses. We wish to acknowledge the efforts by the international community to finance Liberia's debt relief, with over 100 members of the IMF making exceptional contributions beyond the normal terms granted to heavily indebted poor countries."
World Bank Country Director Ishac Diwan said: "Liberian authorities are building a credible track record for implementing economic and governance reforms. Debt relief will support the continuation of these efforts, while also freeing up resources for health care, education and other essential services that are supported by IDA and other donors through the national budget."
Liberia becomes the 29th country to reach the completion point under the HIPC Initiative. The completion point marks the end of the HIPC process, which started in 2008 when the Executive Boards of the IMF and the World Bank agreed that Liberia had met requirements for reaching the decision point, when countries start receiving debt relief on an interim basis.
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It is a blessing, and we are a bless Country. There are many other Countries, that are not so bless to be forgiven like ours.We still have problems but, with efforts made to tackle corruption in Liberia since independence, and bring about developement from scratch, Liberia is on the move to becoming a light to our entire Sub Region; and the continent as a whole.
We are proud of the efforts of the Unity Party led Government. To it's critics I say, keep your mouth shut or roll up your sleeves and join in the work in progress. With the weaver of this prolong dept, Ordinary Liberians can start to see actual developments take roots including jobs.