Leader of Information Team of State Administration Council Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun explains RCF/RFI loans of IMF
Leader of the Information Team of State Administration Council Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun gave answers to media questions on RCF/RFI loans of IMF as follows: Clarification of RCF/RFI loans of IMF
Q: Mingalabar. The media has stated that the anti-COVID-19 fund (IMF)of US$-372 million provided by the International Monetary Fund is lost in the hands of the State Administration Council. We would like to ask you to respond to those media reports.
A: We have already read those media reports and what the IMF has said. In fact, they are unchecked news and besides, they are biased. What we found in the news was that the fund was an aid for Myanmar. The first thing I would say is that the fund is a loan which must be paid back. Actually, the fund was provided as the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) loans in connection with COVID -19. The loans were received under an agreement to be arranged by the Central Bank of Myanmar and the Ministry of Planning and Finance. The loan payment was made two times and the government exercised in accord with the financial procedures. During the first payment, US$-356 million was transferred to the US dollar account of the CBM on 1-7-2020. The CBM then put Ks-490 billion, its equivalent in kyats, into the State account of the MoPF the next day. In the second payment, US$-372.391 million was transferred to the US dollar account of the CBM on 28-1-2021. The CBM then put Ks-495.50 billion, its equivalent in kyats, into the State account of the MoPF on 29-1-2021. RCF has a grace period of five years and a loan repayment period of ten years. RFI has a grace period of three years and a loan repayment period of five years.
In fact, they are loans which must be paid back. Under the agreement between CBM and MoPF, the former is responsible only for drawing the loans and the latter do the work of spending it. The RFI balance sheet of the MoPF was checked by the Union Auditor-General Office and the result was posted on www.mopf.gov.mm, the website of MoPF. Everyone can visit the website. As regards the said loans, information about thepurchase of equipment worth US$-100 million and below for COVID -19 prevention, containment and treatment and COVID - 19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) was released for four times, and about COVID -19 related news for three times. The information about the findings on expenditures for COVID -19 prevention, control and treatment of the government departments and other organizations and work procedures was also released. The relevant ministry is preparing for the fourth release.
It will publish the detailed information this month. Moreover, the government is releasing the balance sheet of the COVID -19 donations every week. It has already released the latest developments on the remaining balances in opening and closing the account statements and the income during the period between 25-10-2021 and 29-10-2021. They are available on the earlier mentioned website. The detailed list of the purchase of COVID -19 vaccines can also be found on the website.
The account statements issued on 29-10-2021 stated the amount of the final installment paid to Sinopharm of China on 27- 10-2021. What I mean here is that the government is doing its duty with full responsibility and accountability through the transparent way. Sadly, there are reports issued without any knowledge of the government’s sincere action or without seeking any information from the relevant ministries or without paying attention to it. These reports are issued to disturb the country’s COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment undertakings and cause international misunderstanding of the country’s situation.
Now, I have already explained the government’s undertakings and anti-COVID -19 activities. The Tatmadaw has been taking part in the anti-COVID -19 activities with might and main even before the assumption of the State duties. Individual Tatmadaw members as well as officers are making contributions to the COVID -19 funds time and again from their salaries.
So, people or the media can find detailed and reliable information on the websites of the respective ministries. They should act only after visiting the said websites. It has been officially announced that the infection rate in the country exceeded 40 percent in July, and now it has fallen below 4 percent. This progressive trend has proved the effectiveness of the government’s endeavours and public participation in COVID -19 prevention, control and treatment undertakings. So, I would like to urge the people to continue their support for the undertakings.
Thank you.