Niger: 2004 Article IV Consultation, Sixth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, and Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion, and Ex Post Assessment of Performance Under IMF-Supported Programs-Staff Reports; Staff Statement; Public Information Notice and Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Niger

Abstract

This paper focuses on Niger’s 2004 Article IV Consultation, Sixth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, and Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion. Niger’s macroeconomic performance has been satisfactory in 2002 and 2003, notwithstanding the adverse impact of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and large fluctuations in agricultural output owing to uneven rainfalls. Real GDP growth is estimated to have increased to 5.3 percent in 2003, from 3.0 percent in 2002, owing to a bumper crop made possible by favorable weather conditions.