Tanzania's policy reforms unlock $448.4 million IMF support package
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a total disbursement of about $448.4 million to Tanzania following the completion of reviews under two key lending arrangements, in recognition of the country's continued economic improvement and reform progress.
The IMF approved a $448.4 million disbursement to Tanzania under key lending arrangements due to economic improvements.
Tanzania's economic indicators show positive trends, including a GDP growth rate projected to reach 6.0% in 2025.
Tanzania's achievements under the ECF and RSF included meeting all quantitative criteria and most structural benchmarks.
The $448.4 million disbursement follows the successful completion of reviews under two key lending programmes and signals the IMF's confidence in Tanzania's macroeconomic policies and ongoing structural reforms.
The IMF Executive Board on Friday concluded the 2025 Article IV consultation and completed the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, as well as the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The move allows for an immediate disbursement of about $448.4 million (SDR 326.47 million) to Tanzania under both arrangements.
The completion of the fifth review under the ECF enables the release of $155.7 million (SDR 113.37 million), representing 28.5% of the country's IMF quota. This brings Tanzania's total access under the ECF arrangement to approximately $908.3 million.
Under the RSF, the completed second review unlocks $292.7 million (SDR 213.1 million), equivalent to 53.5% of quota, raising total access under this facility to around $345.4 million.
The IMF said Tanzania's macroeconomic indicators have continued to improve. Real GDP growth reached 5.5% in 2024 and is projected to rise to 6.0% in 2025. Medium-term growth is forecast at 6.5%, contingent on sustained reform implementation. Inflation remained steady at 3.2% year-on-year in April 2025, staying below the central bank's target.
The current account deficit narrowed to 2.6% of GDP in 2024, down from 3.8% the previous year, supported by a robust export performance.
The IMF also noted that the authorities maintained a neutral or mildly stimulative monetary policy stance, alongside increased exchange rate flexibility. Tanzania's banking sector remains resilient, although the Fund warned that some vulnerabilities persist.
The fiscal balance weakened markedly in the third quarter of the 2024/25 fiscal year, prompting the government to delay lower-priority spending in the final quarter.
Continued reform commitment and risk outlook
All quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets for end-December 2024 under the ECF and RSF were met.
While two of three structural benchmarks for end-March 2025 were implemented, albeit with delays, the implementation of the Secured Transaction Act remains pending and has now been rescheduled for end-February 2026.
Looking ahead, the IMF warned that while economic conditions are expected to remain favorable, risks are tilted to the downside.
The Tanzanian authorities reaffirmed their commitment to reforms aimed at maintaining macro-financial stability, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, advancing structural changes, and addressing climate-related challenges.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
4 hours ago
- Business Insider
Tanzania's policy reforms unlock $448.4 million IMF support package
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a total disbursement of about $448.4 million to Tanzania following the completion of reviews under two key lending arrangements, in recognition of the country's continued economic improvement and reform progress. The IMF approved a $448.4 million disbursement to Tanzania under key lending arrangements due to economic improvements. Tanzania's economic indicators show positive trends, including a GDP growth rate projected to reach 6.0% in 2025. Tanzania's achievements under the ECF and RSF included meeting all quantitative criteria and most structural benchmarks. The $448.4 million disbursement follows the successful completion of reviews under two key lending programmes and signals the IMF's confidence in Tanzania's macroeconomic policies and ongoing structural reforms. The IMF Executive Board on Friday concluded the 2025 Article IV consultation and completed the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, as well as the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The move allows for an immediate disbursement of about $448.4 million (SDR 326.47 million) to Tanzania under both arrangements. The completion of the fifth review under the ECF enables the release of $155.7 million (SDR 113.37 million), representing 28.5% of the country's IMF quota. This brings Tanzania's total access under the ECF arrangement to approximately $908.3 million. Under the RSF, the completed second review unlocks $292.7 million (SDR 213.1 million), equivalent to 53.5% of quota, raising total access under this facility to around $345.4 million. The IMF said Tanzania's macroeconomic indicators have continued to improve. Real GDP growth reached 5.5% in 2024 and is projected to rise to 6.0% in 2025. Medium-term growth is forecast at 6.5%, contingent on sustained reform implementation. Inflation remained steady at 3.2% year-on-year in April 2025, staying below the central bank's target. The current account deficit narrowed to 2.6% of GDP in 2024, down from 3.8% the previous year, supported by a robust export performance. The IMF also noted that the authorities maintained a neutral or mildly stimulative monetary policy stance, alongside increased exchange rate flexibility. Tanzania's banking sector remains resilient, although the Fund warned that some vulnerabilities persist. The fiscal balance weakened markedly in the third quarter of the 2024/25 fiscal year, prompting the government to delay lower-priority spending in the final quarter. Continued reform commitment and risk outlook All quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets for end-December 2024 under the ECF and RSF were met. While two of three structural benchmarks for end-March 2025 were implemented, albeit with delays, the implementation of the Secured Transaction Act remains pending and has now been rescheduled for end-February 2026. Looking ahead, the IMF warned that while economic conditions are expected to remain favorable, risks are tilted to the downside. The Tanzanian authorities reaffirmed their commitment to reforms aimed at maintaining macro-financial stability, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, advancing structural changes, and addressing climate-related challenges.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Highest-paying jobs in Germany: Official data and job postings reveal top salaries
Germany is the world's third-largest economy, with a projected GDP of $4.74 trillion (€4.12tn) in 2025. According to IMF estimates from April of this year, it ranks among the top 20 countries in GDP per capita, with its total standing at $55,911 (€47,206). Germany is also the top EU destination for immigrants in total — combining arrivals from both within and outside the bloc, according to Eurostat. Some of them are highly skilled and dream of finding good, well-paid jobs. So, what are the highest-paying positions in Germany, and what are the average annual earnings for these roles? Euronews Business takes a closer look at the highest salaries in Germany using two sources that reflect different aspects of the job market. The first is the gross earnings dataset from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) from April 2024. While the data is reported monthly, it has been converted into annual figures by multiplying by 12. Euronews has also looked at job postings from global hiring firm Indeed, covering annual earnings from May 2024 to April 2025. According to Destatis, aviation is the top-paying sector in Germany, with a median gross annual salary of €336,000. Median earnings in this field typically start from €132,000. In the healthcare industry, median annual earnings range between €108,000 and €156,000, followed by the legal and judiciary sector, where salaries fall between €84,000 and €144,000. In academia and research, median salaries range from €72,000 to €120,000, closely followed by the IT and engineering sector, where salaries fall between €72,000 and €114,000. Public sector employees are also well paid, with median salaries ranging from €60,000 to €114,000. Retail and services represent the lowest-paid sector, with median annual earnings ranging from €30,000 to €42,000. The average gross monthly earnings in April 2024 were €4,634, amounting to €55,608 annually in Germany. Related Why the Strait of Hormuz remains critical for the global economy Amazon predicts thriving future for high street retail hand in hand with e-commerce Pilots have the highest median annual gross earnings in Germany, with salaries varying based on experience and specific roles. Those in highly complex aviation roles earn a median salary of €342,072, and an average of around €337,152. Flying instructors in complex roles have a median annual salary of €281,592, ranking them second in terms of median earnings. Among the top 50 highest-paying jobs, four additional aviation roles are also featured: air traffic surveillance and control (complex) at €147,996 (5th), airline and aircraft pilots (complex) at €139,524 (6th), aircraft pilots at €122,484 (12th), and technical air traffic control (complex) at €109,188 (20th). Healthcare occupations dominate the list of highest-paying jobs in Germany, with 11 roles included in the top 50. At the top of the list are managers in human medicine and dentistry, earning a substantial €165,576 annually and ranking third overall. Among technical roles, highly complex positions in laboratory medicine and radiology follow closely, with median annual salaries of €131,556 and €129,012, respectively. Medical doctors are also well represented, especially those in surgical specialties, earning €118,668 per year. General or unspecified medical practitioners in highly complex roles can expect to earn around €100,000 annually. Managers in legal services and jurisdiction rank fourth overall, with a median annual salary of €149,280. Judges in highly complex roles follow at 38th place, with prosecutors and lawyers in similarly complex roles ranking just behind them, all earning around €95,000 annually. Related Oil price drops, shares jump as Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire Working from home: Why the UK leads in Europe and how other countries compare Not surprisingly, managerial positions across various sectors appear in the top 50 highest-paying jobs. These sectors include universities, technical research, computer science, public administration, IT systems, software development, accounting, business organisation, and media management. These managers typically earn more than €100,000 annually, with none earning less than €90,000. Perhaps one of the most surprising entries in the list is the magicians and illusionists sector, ranking eighth overall with annual earnings of €134,316. National security service employees in highly complex roles also feature in the top 50, with salaries just over €90,000. Indeed's list of highest-paying occupations also highlights broader salary trends. Corporate tax advisors top the chart with a median annual salary of €145,000 in Germany. Various sales roles come next in the ranking, such as managing directors and heads of sales, with median earnings ranging from €107,500 to €138,243. A labour law attorney earns €105,000, while general lawyers receive around €93,334. System Applications Product consultants earn just under €100,000, with senior system engineers following closely at €95,000. Other tech roles, such as IT security specialists and technical SAP consultants, have salaries around €90,000. In the management category, directors also earn approximately €90,000. There is only one medical profession appearing on the list — dentists — with a median wage of nearly €86,000 because 'physicians and surgeons' is excluded from Indeed's dataset, requiring a separate analysis. Related 'Now is the moment to really embrace those tools': LinkedIn's top tips to futureproof your career As jobs and skills continue to evolve, the highest-paying roles are expected to shift as well. 'We anticipate that AI/GenAI, green energy, cybersecurity, and biotechnology will produce new top-earning job titles over the next 5–10 years,' Pawel Adrjan, Director of Economic Research at Indeed, told Euronews Business. He noted that roles like AI ethicist, GenAI engineers, climate data analysts and key sustainability roles are gaining momentum and are likely to enter the upper salary tiers as demand for specialised expertise in these fields increases. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
U.S. Dollar Hegemony Expected to Support Strategy's (MSTR) Bitcoin Bet
Strategy (MSTR), previously known as MicroStrategy, effectively functions as a leveraged proxy for Bitcoin (BTC-USD), and as such, it introduces a high degree of volatility to any portfolio. While a growing macroeconomic narrative suggests that U.S. dollar hegemony may be weakening, my ongoing analysis does not support this view. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Investors considering MSTR should do so with the expectation of a bullish Bitcoin scenario under relatively stable macroeconomic conditions, not as a hedge against a collapse of the U.S. dollar. Bitcoin prices have been volatile throughout 2025, clawing back early losses to stand approximately at the same level as they did in January. Although crypto volatility is evident, I remain bullish on MSTR. USD Hegemony Remains Intact Despite Incremental Weakening As of 2024, the U.S. dollar remains the dominant currency, accounting for approximately 60% of global foreign exchange reserves, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also maintains dominance in global trade, representing roughly 80% of transactions, and comprises about 90% of foreign exchange market activity, reflecting unmatched liquidity and institutional trust. Given these factors, concerns about an imminent collapse of the U.S. dollar appear overstated. A more realistic scenario is one of gradual, potentially reversible erosion, especially as advancements in AI and robotics drive long-term GDP growth, which could help offset the fiscal pressures associated with rising federal debt. That said, we are witnessing a slow but steady diversification into alternative reserve assets, including the euro (EUR), Chinese renminbi (RMB), and gold. Some prominent investors interpret this trend as the early stages of a long-term structural shift away from dollar dominance. In this context, narratives can become self-fulfilling, especially if key stakeholders begin to more openly support the productivity gains associated with AI. A more optimistic outlook on technological progress could go a long way in restoring confidence in U.S. fiscal sustainability. Given that Strategy would likely benefit in a scenario where confidence in the dollar erodes, I remain cautious about projecting outsized returns based solely on that premise. However, should such a macro disruption occur, both MSTR and Bitcoin exhibit 'antifragile' characteristics—that is, they tend to gain value in periods of systemic stress or uncertainty. This quality is rare and potentially valuable. The key caveat is MSTR's high cyclicality; successful investment requires entering at a favorable valuation and either having a clear exit strategy or the conviction to hold through significant volatility. Strategy Stock Offers Cyclical Hyper-Growth Strategy's business model is based on issuing equity and convertible debt to finance Bitcoin acquisitions. The stock trades at a premium of around 100% of its Bitcoin holdings, in anticipation that the company will continue to leverage favorable financing conditions to expand its BTC reserves. Investors are essentially paying this premium because they expect Bitcoin holdings per share to increase in the future, and they're also betting on management's ability to execute BTC acquisitions at well-timed valuations. There are no direct competitors with a comparable trajectory to Strategy, so its best sector comparison is with BTC itself. The company also has a Software segment, but this has become marginal to the broader BTC-accumulation strategy we're currently witnessing. In Q1 2025, the segment achieved $111 million in total Software revenue, a 3.6% decline compared to Q1 2024, according to Main Street Data. In contrast, in June, Strategy's Bitcoin holdings increased to 592,345 BTC, with a market value exceeding $63.5 billion at $ 107,000 per BTC. MSTR's GAAP earnings per share are currently -$16.49 as of the last earnings report, but this reflects the impact of legal fair-value rules on losses from unrealized Bitcoin positions. This mark-to-market hit, affecting hundreds of thousands of BTC, is what dominates the company's consolidated earnings. However, this is not a reliable gauge for the company's long-term return prospects, as Bitcoin's price is cyclical and highly volatile, meaning these periodic losses are inherent to the return horizon MSTR has embarked upon. Beware of the Halving Cycle Upending Near-Term Returns Bitcoin most predictably rallies based on halving cycles, and the last one was on April 20, 2024. This reduced the mining reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block. These halvings enforce BTC scarcity, thereby strengthening its value. Historically, halvings have been catalysts for long-term price appreciation, often accompanied by a substantial pullback period. We'll be nearing the peak of sentiment in 2026, so buying MSTR stock now is a 12-month trade with heavy volatility risk on the horizon. Is MSTR Stock a Good Buy? On Wall Street, Strategy stock has a consensus Strong Buy rating from top analysts, based on 12 Buys, zero Holds, and one Sell. MSTR's average stock target price is $524.92, indicating a 35% upside potential over the next 12 months. This suggests that, despite the cyclical nature of the investment, which remains inevitable, the upside in the immediate future is likely to be substantial. Strategy Stock Is a Strong Investment, for Now While some view MSTR as a tactical hedge against a potential collapse of the U.S. dollar, such a scenario remains highly improbable given the current structural strengths of the U.S. economy, particularly with emerging tailwinds from AI and robotics innovation. In the near term, I'm bullish on MSTR due to favorable sentiment cycles surrounding Bitcoin; however, a cyclical downturn appears likely. For long-term investors seeking leveraged exposure to Bitcoin, such a pullback may offer the most attractive opportunity for accumulation.
