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April 17, 2020

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Zero growth expected in Asia: IMF

Growth in Asia is expected to stall at zero percent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥 the lowest growth since the 1960s, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

鈥淭his is a crisis like no other. It is worse than the Global Financial Crisis, and Asia is not immune,鈥 Chang Yong Rhee, director of the IMF鈥檚 Asia and Pacific Department, said at a virtual press conference.

The region鈥檚 growth prospect for 2020 is the worst in almost 60 years, including during the Global Financial Crisis (4.7 percent) and the Asian Financial Crisis (1.3 percent), Rhee said.

鈥淭hat said, Asia still looks to fare better than other regions in terms of activity,鈥 he said.

According to the IMF鈥檚 new World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday, the global economy is on track to contract 鈥渟harply鈥 by 3 percent in 2020.

The latest WEO showed that advanced economies will contract significantly by 6.1 percent in 2020, and emerging market and developing economies, which typically have growth levels well above advanced economies, will shrink by 1 percent.

Despite overall negative growth, the IMF projects 1 percent growth for emerging and developing Asia.

China and India will both see moderate growth this year, with a rate of 1.2 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.

鈥淧rospects for 2021, while highly uncertain, are for strong growth,鈥 Rhee said. 鈥淚f containment measures work, and with substantial policy stimulus to reduce 鈥榮carring,鈥 growth in Asia is expected to rebound strongly 鈥 more so than during the Global Financial Crisis.鈥

Rhee said the region is experiencing different stages of the pandemic. 鈥淐hina鈥檚 economy is beginning to get back to work, other economies are imposing tighter lockdowns, and some are experiencing a second wave of virus infections,鈥 Rhee said.

鈥淢uch depends on the spread of the virus and on how policies respond,鈥 he said, while stressing that 鈥渢here is no room for complacency.鈥

The IMF official noted that the multilateral lender is in continuous contact with the authorities in the region to offer advice and assistance, saying that more than 15 countries from across the region have expressed interest in its two emergency financing instruments.

At the virtual press conference, Rhee also conveyed the IMF鈥檚 thanks to Japan and China for their 鈥済enerous contribution鈥 to the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust, which can currently provide about US$500 million in grant-based debt service relief to the poorest countries.


 

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