IMF warns Venezuela over gaps in economic data, gives six months to submit

The decision was not unanimous with Russia objecting to the move and others abstaining, according to two sources

Reuters  |  WASHINGTON 

imf, International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund. Photo: Reuters

The Monetary Fund issued a warning to on Friday for failing to provide the institution with economic data on time and gave it six months to address the lack of some statistics.

The decision was not unanimous with objecting to the move and others abstaining, according to two sources familiar with the board discussion.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if the did not improve the flow of data, the could issue a "declaration of censure" under Article 8 of the fund's rules on furnishing of information.

An statement said was late on data related to the operations of the social security institute, and total exports and imports of merchandise. The data is used as part of the IMF's monitoring of economies around the world.

The complained last month that projecting an economic outlook for was complicated by long gaps in receiving data from the government and data was often incomplete.

The finding, although unrelated to an announcement on Thursday by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that he wants to restructure the country's foreign debt, comes as investors worry the government is on the verge of a default.

The country is locked in a bruising economic crisis that has sparked a wave of protests against Maduro's government amid calls by the community for political mediation.

Maduro on Thursday vowed to make a $1.1. billion payment on a maturing bond but also created a commission to study the restructuring of payments.

The cash-strapped government invited bondholders to a Nov. 13 meeting in Caracas, although some have indicated they were first waiting to see whether the South American OPEC nation makes the $1.1. billion payment and another due next week.

Venezuela, which was a founding member of the fund in 1946, remains a voting member of the IMF, but it has not had any formal engagement with the institution for more than a decade. The conducted its last economic review of Venezuela's in 2004.

The said it was "hopeful" that its decision will encourage to re-engage with the by making the data available.

First Published: Sat, November 04 2017. 10:41 IST