Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Kyiv, July 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The next review of the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Ukraine will mostly likely take place in October, according to IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine Ceyla Pazarbasioglu.

Until then, the mission will be in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities regarding the formation of the 2010 budget and the continuation of the country's bank-strengthening program, Pazarbasioglu said during a conference call on Thursday.

During the third review, the IMF is ready to study closely the correspondence of the current amount of the stand-by credit, worth SDR 11 billion, with Ukraine's needs in 2010.

"What I'm trying to say is that we are open-minded. We will look at it carefully, revise it if necessary, and discuss the options, but, at this point in time, the program is adequately financed," the IMF mission chief said.

As reported, the Ukrainian Finance Ministry said on Wednesday that talks with the IMF about the release of the next tranche of its loan to Ukraine may start by late September.

The SBA, which is worth SDR 11 billion ($16.4 billion), was approved early in November 2008. A first tranche of SDR 3 billion under the SBA was allocated at that time.

The release of the second tranche worth SDR 1.9 billion (about $2.8 billion) under the SBA was approved on May 8, 2009.

The IMF Executive Board approved the release of the third tranche, equivalent to SDR 2.12 billion (about $3.3 billion), on July 28.

The fund has already issued SDR 7 billion ($10.9 billion) under the SBA with Ukraine.

A fourth tranche of SDR 2.5 billion (about $3.84 billion) will be transferred on the successful completion of the SBA's third review, in November 2009.