Washington, DC – Recent
1. B-ROLL: Exterior IMF

Washington, DC --- 13 February 2020
2. Walk-up news conference
3. Reporters cutaway
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“The uncertainty is too big to make any specific forecasts or projections. So the best we can do is try to look at various possible scenarios and how they play out. And that's what the managing director talked about yesterday. She talked about the V-shape scenario, which we again, we would all hope for. That's not a prediction. It's not a forecast. But we would hope for. Because that's the best that would be the best possible outcome in terms of the economics.”
5. Cutaway Reporter
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“We think that given the weaker economic environment in India, which again, we've talked about recently, the environment is weaker than we had forecast earlier, that a more accommodative fiscal stance this year is appropriate. So that more accommodative fiscal stance in the budget we think is a is appropriate. That said, while the budget touches on ongoing sectoral efforts, there remains an urgent need for more ambitious structural and financial sector reform measures and a medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy anchored in tangible revenue and expenditure measures, especially given rising debt levels.”

7. Cutaway Reporter
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gerry Rice, IMF Spokesman:
“We are ready to help to offer advice, technical assistance at this stage. As those of you who followed the Fund know, we have various instruments to help countries, including financial assistance. But as I said, at this stage, what has been requested from the Lebanese authorities is our technical assistance and advice to help them with the reforms that they want to put in place to restore stability and growth.”

9. Cutaway Reporter


Washington, DC – Recent
10. B-ROLL: Exterior IMF