IMF Concludes Article IV Consultation With Algeria

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

03 March 2009

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded its Article IV consultation with Algeria, and reported its findings, noting a broadly positive performance but highlighting that diversification away from hydrocarbons is vital for the wider economy.

The IMF reported that Algeria has enjoyed several years of strong economic performance, but continues to face important challenges. Non-hydrocarbon growth has been solid, inflation low, and the fiscal and external positions strong, thanks to high hydrocarbon prices. External debt has been virtually eliminated, and the government has accumulated large savings in the oil stabilization fund (FRR). However, youth unemployment remains high, the economy is highly dependent on hydrocarbon exports, the non-hydrocarbon private sector is mainly inward oriented, and productivity and the business climate are lagging compared to trading partners. The global financial crisis and declining oil prices highlight the pressing need to accelerate structural reforms to diversify the economy and ensure sustained non-hydrocarbon growth and job creation.

Economic performance remained relatively favorable in 2008. Growth in the non-hydrocarbon sector, which represents 55% of total GDP, reached about 6 percent, as the large public investment program (PIP) continued to pull activity in services and construction. Overall growth is projected at below 3%, as hydrocarbon exports remained sluggish. Inflation is among the lowest in the region. Boosted by increasing oil prices until mid-2008, international reserves stood at USD135bn in October (2½ years' worth of imports). The fiscal stance has been expansionary, but large hydrocarbon revenues translated into an overall budget surplus of 8% of GDP. Additional savings were accumulated in the oil stabilization fund, which reached 37% of GDP. The real effective exchange rate continued to be close to its equilibrium level.

The outlook remains encouraging despite the challenging international environment, but medium-term risks may become significant. Algeria appears insulated from direct financial contagion given the predominantly public financial sector, minimal external indebtedness, and prudent management of international reserves. Non-hydrocarbon GDP growth is projected at about 6% in 2009, provided the government and the national hydrocarbon company, Sonatrach, draw down their savings to continue their substantial investments. Reflecting a slowdown of growth in Europe, the IMF projects a drop in the volume of hydrocarbon exports, bringing overall growth down to 2.5%. Inflation would stay below 4%. The significant decline in oil prices and high imports induced by PIP and Sonatrach investments would shift the current account balance from a surplus of 20% of GDP in 2008 to a deficit of 3% in 2009, but the reserve cover would remain above 2 years of imports. The most important risk in the medium term would be continued low international oil prices, which would significantly weaken the external and fiscal positions, force a slow down of the PIP and other investments, and depress growth.

There was some progress in structural reforms, but the business climate needs to improve according to the IMF. The authorities have launched various initiatives aimed at increasing the banking system's lending capacity, including budget appropriations for public bank capital and some financial restructuring of public enterprises. Loan syndication and project finance techniques have been used for large investments, as well as further corporate bond issues. Longer maturity government bonds have been listed on the Algiers stock exchange to improve price dissemination. The central bank's credit bureau is being extended to household loans. Efforts are also ongoing to deepen Algeria's integration into the regional and world economies. Nevertheless, these reforms have not yet translated into an improvement in the perception of the business climate, which continues to be ranked behind most regional competitors.

In their executive assessment the IMF welcomed Algeria's strong economic performance in recent years, with solid non-hydrocarbon growth and low inflation. In particular, they commended the authorities for their sound policy stance that has enabled the accumulation of large external reserves and resources in the oil stabilization fund.

The IMF observed that the immediate priority is to adopt adequate policies in response to the global crisis and noted that Algeria's economy and financial system are relatively insulated from the global financial turmoil. However, the significant decline in oil prices, if sustained, will shift the external and fiscal positions into deficits, and, together with a prolonged recession in major trading partners, could eventually weigh on growth. Algeria also continues to face important medium-term challenges. Sustained efforts are needed to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on the hydrocarbon sector, improve productivity and the business climate, both of which are lagging relative to trading partners, and reduce high youth unemployment.

The IMF endorsed the authorities' decision to maintain the high level of public spending in the short term to provide support to the economy and mitigate the impact of the global economic downturn. They observed that continuing the implementation of the Public Investment Program would improve infrastructure, enhance human capital, and help reduce unemployment. Directors noted that the fiscal deficits can be covered in the short term by drawing on the significant savings accumulated in recent years through prudent financial policies.

The IMF welcomed the authorities' commitment to preserving competitiveness and long-term fiscal sustainability by containing current outlays, in particular the wage bill and subsidies. In that light, they supported plans to link future wage increases to productivity and economic performance. Directors stressed the need to continue ensuring the quality and efficiency of public spending, enhancing non-hydrocarbon tax collection, modernizing the budget process, and strengthening fiscal governance. Directors also welcomed the authorities' readiness to further prioritize the public investment program and their commitment to contain current expenditure and strengthen non-hydrocarbon revenues if risks of durably low oil prices materialize.

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