OREANDA-NEWS. September 12, 2016. Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation 1 with Kiribati.

Kiribati’s recent economic performance has been strong. Growth is estimated to have reached 3.5 percent in 2015, supported by record high fishing revenue, donor financed infrastructure projects and reconstruction in the aftermath of cyclone Pam. Growth is projected to moderate somewhat to around 3 percent this year, while inflation remains subdued owing to low food and commodity prices.

The fiscal position has improved markedly in recent years. High fishing revenue contributed to a recurrent fiscal balance of almost 50 percent of GDP in 2015, more than offsetting the increase in government recurrent spending of 13 percent. Public debt increased from less than 10 percent of GDP in 2014 to 23 percent of GDP at the end of 2015 owing to the commencement of the Bonriki International Airport repair and upgrade project, financed by development partner concessional loans. The current account surplus reached 40 percent of GDP in 2015, with fishing revenue and a recovery in seamen remittances more than offsetting elevated imports related to donor financed projects.

Growth is projected to weaken further over the medium term with the projected decline in fishing revenue and the completion of large infrastructure projects. Climate change can have an impact on long-run prospects given the country’s low elevation. Global financial market turmoil may feed into the domestic economy through the exposure to foreign assets of the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund (RERF) and the Kiribati Provident Fund (KPF), the country’s two main savings vehicles.

Executive Board Assessment 2

Executive Directors welcomed the strengthening of Kiribati’s current account and the balance of the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund (RERF), and commended the good progress on structural reforms. They observed, however, that Kiribati faces development challenges stemming from its geographic location, the lack of economies of scale, and its vulnerability to climate change. Directors emphasized that building fiscal buffers and continued support from development partners will be important to mitigate the risks to economic growth.

Directors underscored that prudent management of public resources in the context of a medium-term fiscal framework remains the key policy priority. They considered a balanced structural budget an appropriate fiscal anchor in light of the projected decline in fishing revenue. Directors encouraged the authorities to formulate a target-level and a rule-based withdrawal mechanism for the RERF, which would enhance its role as an endowment fund for both current and future generations. They also underscored the importance of further enhancing tax collection and public financial management to facilitate the needed growth-friendly fiscal adjustment.

Directors welcomed the authorities’ efforts to improve Kiribati’s resilience to climate change. They highlighted that explicitly recognizing climate change adaptation costs and infrastructure maintenance needs in the budget would help ensure adequate provision of resources, including from development partners.

Directors noted the need to enhance financial deepening and address deficiencies in financial supervision. They encouraged steps to facilitate private sector access to credit while safeguarding the long-run sustainability of public financial institutions, given their critical role in the financial sector.

Directors emphasized that private sector development is vital to achieving more sustained and inclusive growth. They commended the progress on state-owned enterprise reforms and encouraged the authorities to maintain the momentum. Directors recommended further improvement in infrastructure, including air transportation and shipping services, enhancing the business climate by streamlining business licensing processes and improving land registration, as well as investing in human capital to better harness Kiribati’s resources.


1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

2 At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

Kiribati: Selected Economic Indicators, 2012–18

Nominal GDP (2014): US\\$186.1 million

GDP per capita (2013): US\\$1,656

Nominal GNI (2014): US\\$371.8 million

Population (2013): 109,366

Main export products: fish and copra

Quota: SDR 5.6 million

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Est.

Proj.

Real GDP (percent change)

5.2

5.8

2.4

3.5

3.1

2.5

2.0

Real GNI (percent change)

14.1

16.4

13.4

18.3

-22.9

0.9

2.0

Consumer prices (percent change, average)

-3.0

-1.5

2.1

0.6

1.5

2.0

2.5

Central government finance (percent of GDP)

Revenue and grants

84.2

96.2

137.1

165.4

121.2

90.9

90.0

Total domestic revenue

50.3

64.5

86.0

116.4

63.0

58.1

57.2

Grants

33.9

31.8

51.2

49.0

58.2

32.7

32.7

Expenditure and net lending

92.6

85.8

113.6

119.9

134.1

102.2

101.4

Current

59.1

54.5

58.3

64.0

66.9

65.6

64.9

Of which: wages and salaries

26.4

26.9

26.0

27.6

27.7

27.0

26.4

Development

33.5

31.4

55.4

55.9

67.2

36.5

36.5

Current balance 1/

-8.8

10.0

27.7

52.4

-3.9

-7.5

-7.7

Overall balance

-8.4

10.4

23.5

45.5

-12.9

-11.3

-11.5

Financing

8.4

-10.4

-23.5

-45.5

12.9

11.3

11.5

of which Revenue Equalization and Reserve

Fund (RERF)

23.0

-10.0

4.1

-23.5

-39.4

4.4

5.9

RERF

Closing balance (in millions of Australian

dollars) 2/

614

661

679

756

866

880

891

Per capita value (in 2006 Australian dollars)

4,872

5,018

4,932

5,305

5,869

5,727

5,553

Balance of payments

Current account including official transfers (in

millions of US dollars)

-8.4

15.5

44.8

72.1

-11.9

-4.4

-2.9

(In percent of GDP)

-4.5

8.3

24.0

44.9

-7.2

-2.5

-1.6

External debt (in millions of US dollars)

14.3

14.3

14.3

35.7

45.3

51.6

58.1

(In percent of GDP)

7.5

8.2

8.4

23.1

27.0

29.4

31.9

External debt service (in millions of US dollars)

7.5

2.7

8.3

0.5

0.9

0.6

0.6

(In percent of exports of goods and services)

30.5

12.2

39.4

2.7

4.4

2.7

2.9

Exchange rate (A\\$/US\\$ period average)

1.0

1.0

1.1

1.3

…

…

…

Real effective exchange rate (period average) 3/

101.0

94.0

89.3

78.0

…

…

…

Memorandum item:

Nominal GDP (In millions of US dollars)

188.1

187.7

186.3

165.7

175.6

182.5

187.7

Sources: Data provided by the Kiribati authorities; and Fund staff estimates and projections.

1/ Current balance excludes grants and development expenditure.

2/ The Australian dollar circulates as legal tender.

3/ Index, 2005=100.