Finance and Planning Minister Dr Peter Phillips leaves the island today for Washington to engage in a series of discussions with officials from the US Treasury, US State Department, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the World Bank (IBRD).

The meetings and technical discussions will focus on the macro-economic and fiscal path that Jamaica is pursuing in order to realise economic growth and development, the recent performance of the Jamaican economy and achievements under the IMF four-year Extended Fund Facility. The delegation will also engage in discussion with these organisations on how each of them can tangibly continue to support Jamaica’s development; particularly in terms of financing of the growth objectives and debt reduction initiatives.

 Phillips is accompanied by the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica Brian Wynter; the Director General of Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Colin Bullock; and the Financial Secretary, Devon Rowe.

He will return to Jamaica on Thursday.