Fight against corruption, NBU independence to be on IMF mission’s agenda in Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund's review mission will start working on the Ukraine issue in a virtual format in the second half of September, set to focus on the National Bank’s independence, reforms, and strengthening of anti-corruption institutions.

That’s according to the Fund’s spokesperson Gerry Rice who spoke at a Washington briefing on Thursday, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports.

Specific dates for the mission’s work are yet to be announced, Rice added.

The official has stressed that the IMF is determined to continue working with the Ukrainian authorities to implement the agreements set out in the current Stand-By Arrangement to review it and allocate the next tranche.

The mission will focus on issues related to strengthening the governance and autonomy of the National Bank of Ukraine, judicial reforms, restoring and strengthening the anti-corruption structure, as well as ensuring a stable fiscal situation, according to the IMF representative.

The official also noted that he could not name any deadlines for the next loan tranche to be disbursed or for a possible extension of the SBA as ongoing discussions are yet to be completed.

As Ukrinform reported, the day before, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said the IMF review mission was expected to start working on September 18. He also claimed that the Ukrainian side had fulfilled all conditions stipulated in the memorandum of cooperation with the IMF, expecting a positive decision on the allocation of the next tranche.

The IMF in June last year approved an 18-month stand-by arrangement for Ukraine, which provides for the allocation of about $5 billion with the immediate provision of $2.1 billion within the first tranche.

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