IMF should examine adequacy of its resources: Jaitley

Amid growing uncertainties and risks of financial system instability, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today called on the IMF to examine the adequacy of its resources and whether they are sufficient for future proofing the global economy against recurrence of financial crisis.
"The IMF is in unique position to take this responsibility but needs to be strengthened further through reforms in its governance. At the same time, the IMF should also examine adequacy of its own resources and whether they are sufficient for 'future proofing' the global economy against recurrence of financial crisis," Jaitley said in his address to the International Monetary and Finance Committee.

Noting that global growth has weakened further and financial market conditions have worsened, he said global recovery is affected by subdued growth and low productivity in Advanced Economies (AEs) and elevated risks faced by Emerging Market Economies (EMEs).
Many large EMEs are stressed owing to difficult macroeconomic conditions, sharply declining commodity prices and tightening financial conditions amid volatile capital flows, Jaitley asserted.
A credible recovery in global growth is dependent on following consistent macroeconomic policies and easing structural impediments to growth, he said.
Increasing potential growth and productivity, while remaining vigilant about risks to macro-financial stability are needed to secure a sustainable global recovery, Jaitley, who is here on a week-long visit, said.

"Growing uncertainties and risks of instability of the financial system are unsupportive of global recovery," he said.

Flagging trade volumes, softening commodity prices, idle capacities and anemic economic fundamentals, particularly in a number of large EMEs are increasingly impairing their ability to sustain economic and financial resilience against rising risk premiums and credit risks, the Minister said.
At the same time, he warned that there are the risks of exogenous shocks from asynchronous normalisation of Unconventional Monetary Polices (UMPs) that can produce disorderly adjustments in exchange and volatile capital flows, increasing the cost of managing external exposures and balance of payments.

"In order to be a reliable source of contingent
financing, it is important to assess the sufficiency of Fund's resources in accordance with the changing global realities including levels of global growth, size of trade and capital flows," Jaitley said.
(Reopens FGN 19)
He also called for the completion of the IMF's 15th General Review of Quotas by 2017, including the review of the new quota formula.
"The IMF can also serve as a platform for building consensual rules for enhanced cooperation among countries on matters pertaining to global stability.
"The leadership and participation of advanced economies, especially, the United States in the Fund is a valued source of its institutional strength and credibility. The Fund must continue to evolve as an effective institution in tune with changing character of the global economy, and build ample reserves to prevent the threat of financial distress among its members," he added.

Separately addressing the Development Committee of the World Bank, Jaitley said India has created a favourable investment climate in all sectors which has resulted in a hefty increase in FDI in the last two years.
He said India has also made significant leaps in the developmental, climate change and inclusion agenda by launching path-breaking initiatives.
The Indian government, he said, is delivering subsidy to 153 million households for use of LPG directly in their bank accounts through the world's largest cash transfer programme.
"The subsidies on petrol and diesel have been done away with and we have put carbon taxes on coal and other fossil fuels," he said.

Jaitley said the global growth in 2015, currently estimated at 3.1 per cent, is projected to inch up to slightly higher level of 3.2 per cent in 2016 and 3.5 per cent in 2017.
"This slow and low growth faces significant downside risks -- depressed commodity prices, ongoing geopolitical tensions in a number of regions and adverse financing conditions depressing investor confidence and global trade.
"Most worrying is the fact that the growth, which is necessary to achieve poverty reduction and SDGs, is now declining in emerging market and other developing economies and their fiscal position continue to deteriorate," he said.

He also asked the World Bank to increase its developmental fund to USD 100 billion a year, from USD 50-60 billion at present, and called for enhancing the share and voice of developing nations in the management of institutions providing assistance under it.
The World Bank provides developmental assistance through International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Observing that the World Bank is highly capital constrained, Jaitley said the IFC has no space to invest today even at low level volumes it has been doing for some years.
IBRD would not be able to maintain lending levels of even USD 20 billion per annum in two years' time, he said.

To better reflect the increasing weight of Developing and Transition Countries (DTCs), their share and voice in the management of these institutions also needs to grow, he said.
"We should therefore plan to have a Selective Capital Increase (SCI) to raise Developing and Transition Countries (DTCs) voting share to 50 per cent and a large general capital increase in IBRD and IFC for being able to finance USD 100 billion per annum going forward," he said.