Supporting agreements with the international institutions
Program with the IMF under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility approved on March 19, 2001
Total external debt of the country
$5 400 million as of July 06, 2001, representing 86% of GDP.
$1 900 million of which being due to Paris Club as of December 31, 2001
Amounts treated
$432 million of which $130 million being canceled, of which $302 million being rescheduled
Categories of debt treated
Treatment of arrears as of February 28, 2001.
Treatment of maturities falling due from March 01, 2001 up to March 31, 2004
Repayment profile
Treatment under Naples terms (cancellation rate of 48,6%)
- repayment of non ODA credits over 23 years, with 6 years of grace, after cancellation to a rate of 48,6%
- repayment of ODA credits over 40 years with 16 years of grace
Specific provisions
Possibility to conduct debt swaps
On a voluntary and bilateral basis, the Government of each participating creditor country or its appropriate institutions may sell or exchange, in the framework of debt for nature, debt for aid, debt for equity swaps or other local currency debt swaps : (i) all ODA loans ; (ii) the amounts of other outstanding credits, loans and consolidations mentioned in paragraph 1. above, up to 20% of the amounts of outstanding credits as of November 30, 1992 or up to an amount of 20 million SDR, whichever is higher. Participating creditor countries and the Government of Ethiopia will inform semi-annually the Secretariat of the Paris Club, who will inform other creditors, of the debt swaps agreements they have implemented. All elements necessary to evaluate the operation, its impact on Ethiopia's economy and on the evolution of creditor's exposure will be transmitted to the Secretariat including : its nature and purpose ; the parties to the debt swap ; the amount, type and value of the debt treated ; the price of sale to investors and the expense of Ethiopia.
Good will clause
In response to the request of the representatives of the Government of Ethiopia, the Participating Creditor Countries agreed in principle to a meeting to consider the matter of Ethiopia's debt service payments falling due after March 31, 2004 and relating to loans or credits pursuant to a contract or other financial arrangement concluded before December 31, 1989, provided :
- that Ethiopia continues to have an appropriate arrangement with the International Monetary Fund ;
- that Ethiopia has reached with other creditors effective arrangements meeting the conditions described in Article III paragraph 1. above and has reported in writing to the Chairman of the Paris Club, pursuant to Article III paragraph 2. above ;
- and that Ethiopia has complied with all conditions set out in this Agreed Minute.
Free transferability provision
The Government of Ethiopia guarantees the immediate and unrestricted transfer of the foreign exchange counterpart of all amounts paid in local currency by the private debtors in Ethiopia for servicing their foreign debt legally contracted under the Ethiopian law and owed to or guaranteed by the participating or Observer Creditor Countries or their appropriate institutions.
Phases
- First phase : From March 01, 2001 up to March 31, 2002, implemented at the signature of the agreement
- Second phase : From April 01, 2002 up to March 31, 2003, implemented on May 31, 2002
- Third phase : From April 01, 2003 up to March 31, 2004, implemented on September 08, 2003
De minimis threshold of 250 000 SDR
Payment of non-consolidated amounts before July 15, 2001
Comparability of treatment provision
In order to secure comparable treatment of its debt due to all its external public or private creditors, the Government of Ethiopia commits itself to seek promptly from all its external creditors debt reduction and reorganization arrangements on terms comparable in net present value to those set forth in the present Agreed Minute for credits of comparable maturity. Comparability of treatment for debt reduction in net present value is assessed not only on the basis of the reduction in the face value of the debt but also on the terms of repayment of the debts not cancelled.
Consequently, the Government of Ethiopia commits itself to accord all categories of creditors -and in particular creditor countries not participating in the present Agreed Minute, commercial banks and suppliers- a treatment not more favourable than that accorded to the Participating Creditor Countries.
For the purpose of the comparison between the arrangements concluded by the Government of Ethiopia with its creditor countries not listed in the present Agreed Minute on the one hand, and with the Participating Creditor Countries on the other hand, all relevant elements will be taken into account, including the real exposure of the creditor countries not listed in the present Agreed Minute, the level of cash payments received by those creditor countries from the Government of Ethiopia as compared to their share in Ethiopia's external debt, the nature and characteristics of all treatment applied, including debt buy backs, and all characteristics of the reorganized claims and in particular their repayment terms whatever forms they take and in general the financial relations between the Government of Ethiopia and the creditor countries not listed in the present Agreed Minute.
Cut-off date
December 31, 1989
Organisation of the session
The meeting was chaired by Mrs Stéphane Pallez, Co Chairperson of the Paris Club.
The head of the debtor country's delegation was Mr. Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance.
- AUSTRALIA, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS, SPAIN
Files attached
et05042001cpen6870.pdf (11.19 KB)