The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has observed some improvement in the DR’s monetary and public financial areas, according to Jacques Mandeng, the IMF representative in the Dominican Republic. The IMF team visited the Dominican Republic recently for talks on the resumption of the suspended StandBy Agreement, an event that complemented the trip made by the Dominican financial team last week. Mandeng was clear as he pointed out that steps have been taken towards a renewal of the IMF Stand By Agreement. Recently, it was revealed that the IMF and the DR were discussing a sum between US$800 million and US$1 billion. After the initial ratification of the Stand By, the PRD government received almost US$200 million, but subsequent government actions voided the accord and the IMF stopped all disbursements. Sources close to the Listin Diario revealed that, apart from the tax reform that was just put into effect, the IMF also wants changes made in the electric system. Mandeng revealed that electric sector’s financing is being negotiated with the World Bank on one hand and with the USAID on the other, both of which negotiations are independent of the ongoing IMF talks. The idea, according to the IMF economist, is to obtain solid financing and to sharpen the collection for energy use.