[뉴스핌 Newspim=변명섭 기자] 국제통화기금(IMF)이 지난 1998년 외환위기 이후 유지해오던 서울사무소를 오는 9월 폐쇄한다.
10일 기획재정부에 따르면 IMF는 비용감축 노력의 일환으로 주한 대표사무소를 매럴 가라슐라 현 소장의 임기가 만료되는 오는 9월 폐쇄하기로 결정했다.
IMF 측은 한국이 아시아 경제위기에서 완전히 회복(fully recovered from the Asia crisis)됐고, 성숙하고 탄력있는(mature & resilient) 경제상황 등을 고려했다고 설명했다.
또 IMF는 “한국은 아시아 태평양 지역과 세계 경제에서 모두 중요한 위치를 차지하고 있으며 아시아 경제위기에서도 완전히 회복됐다”며 “앞으로도 협력관계를 소홀히 하지 않을 것이며 정책 협의에서도 지속적인 협력을 유지하길 바란다”고 덧붙였다.
다음은 IMF 주한대표 사무소의 보도문 원문이다.
Press Line for Closure of IMF KOREA RR Office
As part of the IMF's restructuring and downsizing process, a number of resident representative offices in Asia, as well as other parts of the world, are being closed, especially in countries that no longer have programs. Notwithstanding these closures, the IMF remains committed to working closely with the authorities of all economies in the Asia region to maintain macroeconomic and financial stability. To this end, we are giving some of those offices that remain open a wider regional role, covering more than one country. We will also continue to collaborate closely with authorities in the region through the Article IV consultation process and interim staff visits, whose frequency in some cases will be increased.
Within the context of this restructuring and downsizing process, the IMF has decided to close the IMF Korea office at the end of the term of the current resident representative in September. While Korea is an important economy in both the region and the global economy, it is also now a mature and resilient economy, and has fully recovered from the Asia crisis. Given the importance of the Korean economy our decision to close the office was a difficult one. However, we will not scale back our work on Korea, or our interaction with the authorities, not least because of its systemic importance. We have excellent relationships with the Korean authorities and would like to thank them for their hospitality. We look forward building on our cooperation in our future policy dialogue.
10일 기획재정부에 따르면 IMF는 비용감축 노력의 일환으로 주한 대표사무소를 매럴 가라슐라 현 소장의 임기가 만료되는 오는 9월 폐쇄하기로 결정했다.
IMF 측은 한국이 아시아 경제위기에서 완전히 회복(fully recovered from the Asia crisis)됐고, 성숙하고 탄력있는(mature & resilient) 경제상황 등을 고려했다고 설명했다.
또 IMF는 “한국은 아시아 태평양 지역과 세계 경제에서 모두 중요한 위치를 차지하고 있으며 아시아 경제위기에서도 완전히 회복됐다”며 “앞으로도 협력관계를 소홀히 하지 않을 것이며 정책 협의에서도 지속적인 협력을 유지하길 바란다”고 덧붙였다.
다음은 IMF 주한대표 사무소의 보도문 원문이다.
Press Line for Closure of IMF KOREA RR Office
As part of the IMF's restructuring and downsizing process, a number of resident representative offices in Asia, as well as other parts of the world, are being closed, especially in countries that no longer have programs. Notwithstanding these closures, the IMF remains committed to working closely with the authorities of all economies in the Asia region to maintain macroeconomic and financial stability. To this end, we are giving some of those offices that remain open a wider regional role, covering more than one country. We will also continue to collaborate closely with authorities in the region through the Article IV consultation process and interim staff visits, whose frequency in some cases will be increased.
Within the context of this restructuring and downsizing process, the IMF has decided to close the IMF Korea office at the end of the term of the current resident representative in September. While Korea is an important economy in both the region and the global economy, it is also now a mature and resilient economy, and has fully recovered from the Asia crisis. Given the importance of the Korean economy our decision to close the office was a difficult one. However, we will not scale back our work on Korea, or our interaction with the authorities, not least because of its systemic importance. We have excellent relationships with the Korean authorities and would like to thank them for their hospitality. We look forward building on our cooperation in our future policy dialogue.
