Ukraine can obtain the fifth tranche of the International Monetary Fund by this autumn, Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Yakov Smolii told during interview with Zn.ua.
He reminded that for obtaining IMF tranche, Ukraine undertook obligations to raise gas rates and approve the law on Anticorruption Court.
Smolii noted that Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC presented IMF another concept of the gas market, which was consequently recognized acceptable in the fund for continuing negotiations. Recently, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on the Anticorruption Court.
“After agreeing all questions and adopting all decisions, the IMF mission usually arrives to Kyiv in a weak-two. It works here for about two weeks, after what it goes to Washington and prepares documents for the session of the Management Board. It is about two weeks. After the Management Board approves the decision, its registration and funds transfer, need other several weeks. Therefore, it will take about two months to just undergo all procedures. That is yes, it is possible by autumn (to obtain IMF tranche)”, Chairman of the National Bank said.
As is known, the International Monetary Fund imposed four requirements to Ukraine for obtaining the next tranche. Thus, Kyiv should create the anticorruption court and regulate the question with gas prices. The already approved pension reform and the law on privatization were also the requirements.
This March, Resident Representative for Ukraine Gösta Ljungman told during his interview with HB that Ukraine can count on the fourth revision of the lending program by May 2018, if Ukrainian authorities will be able to demonstrate progress in implementing the required reforms within the next one or two months.
However, later the National Bank forecast allocation of the next IMF credit tranche (about $1.9 bln) only in the second half-year 2018.
Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings expects that Ukraine will obtain the next tranche in Q3, 2018.
Previously, Minister of Finance of Ukraine Alexander Danyliuk stated during interview with HB that Ukraine plans to conclude with IMF a new extended financing facility program after the current one ends.
NBU expects that the volume of the next program of cooperation with IMF will be about $5.5 bln. At the same time, the regulator will continue to expect for receipts from IMF, amounting to about $2 bln in 2018 under the current program.
