Just a few details regarding the nation’s electric sector remain on the list of requirements placed on the country by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It appears therefore, that the stand-by accord will come into effect within the next three weeks as was announced by the Finance Minister last week. The 2005 Budget and the tax reform package are all finished, and the Paris Club has agreed to a rescheduling of over US$300 million in debt payments, once the country is up to date on overdue payments. The banking sector has been forced to adopt a series of regulations that have made financing more difficult, but that have also strengthened the system. The approval by the IMF executive will open the door to international financing of up to US$1.0 billion, between the IMF, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB).