Central Bank asked the IMF for a credit line for 23 thousand 800 million dollars



[ad_1]

The Central Bank of Chile confirmed this afternoon that he requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a flexible line of credit by $ 23.8 billion: some 19.6 billion Chilean pesos.

According to the issuing institute indicated on its website, “access to this line will complement international reserves and increase the availability of immediate access liquidity by more than 60%.”

The Central explained that “it is a precautionary facility, reserved for countries with very solid macroeconomic fundamentals “, which “is not subject to ex post conditionality” and which “provides a significant support to face an eventual worsening of the global crisis caused by Covid-19 “.

This information is known a few days after the version that the Government had requested a loan from the IMF circulated; which was denied at the time by himself Finance Minister Ignacio Briones.

Favorable welcome

The Central Bank – which is a autonomous institution of the State and is governed by a constitutional organic law- explained that “in a statement issued today, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that the The agency’s executive board met in an informal session to discuss the request. “

This corresponds to “a two-year Flexible Line of Credit (FCL) for an amount of US $ 23.8 billion (SDR 17,443 million)”; an instrument that “aims to protect economies from eventual external shocks by providing broad and up-front access to IMF resources, without ex post conditions “.

“In accordance with Chile’s strong policy framework and track record, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will recommend approval of the agreement request to the agency’s Executive Board FCL when soon this instance formally considers the request of the Central Bank“, indicated.

“It is not intended to finance public spending”

The note highlights that “the FCL is a precautionary facility, complementary to own liquidity sources from, for example, international reserves “, and” their availability is intended help achieve the objectives of the Central Bank before eventual situations of severe external shocks, such as those that could accompany a significant worsening of the global effects of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 “.

The facility is not intended to finance public spending“and neither” is subject to the conditionality of traditional IMF adjustment programs for countries facing a balance of payments crisis, “he remarks.

“The FCL does not impose prior actions to the country that hires it or ex post conditionalities in the event of disbursements. It is enough that the country meets the demanding qualification criteria. Since its creation in 2009, Mexico, Poland and Colombia have had access to this line, to which Peru would be added, a country that is also awaiting formal approval, “it is indicated.

“Access to this line It is part of the strategy of the Central Bank of Chile to strengthen its instruments against the risk that the adverse economic conditions derived from the health crisis will increase or continue.. It provides significant support not only for dealing with more severe external shocks and raising market confidence, but also for expand the set of tools available to the Bank to support the transmission of monetary policy and contribute to financial stability “, the issuing institute ends.

Also read: What are IMF precautionary lines of credit



[ad_2]