On June 12, 2023, in Hanoi, Governor Nguyen Thi Hong of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) had a meeting with Mr. Jochen Schmittmann, the newly appointed Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Vietnam. Mr. Schmittmann will assume office from August 2023.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Francois Painchaud, incumbent Resident Representative of the IMF in Vietnam, together with experts and staff of the IMF Resident Representative Office in Hanoi.
At the meeting, the SBV Governor expressed her high appreciation for the active cooperation between the IMF Resident Representative Office and the SBV over the past years. Especially, during the years when the economy was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMF had continually provided the SBV with valuable policy recommendations, and advised the SBV and other government agencies on the policy administration in the areas of macroeconomic management, finance and monetary operations; actively supported the Government and the SBV during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in the post-COVID economic recovery process. The technical assistance provided by the IMF had contributed to improving the capacity of the SBV, the ministries and agencies in the fields of macroeconomic management.
Overview of the meeting.
The SBV Governor hoped that, during his office term, Mr. Schmittmann would promote the achieved results, continue to advise and accompany the Government and the SBV in the macroeconomic management in order to achieve the established goals.
In the context that the global economy and the economy of Vietnam have been facing many challenges, SBV Governor Nguyen Thi Hong expressed her wishes that, Mr. Schmittmann and the IMF Representative Office would continue to accompany and support the SBV and other government agencies, providing valuable policy advice in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the policy administration, contributing to improving the resilience and the sustainable development of Vietnam’s economy.
On the side of the IMF, Mr. Painchaud spoke highly of the policy administration of the Government and the SBV over the past years. He also thanked the SBV Governor for the SBV’s support and its role in coordinating the IMF’s activities in Vietnam.
Mr. Schmittmann affirmed that, on his new position, he would continue to promote and strengthen the good cooperative relationship between the IMF and the Government of Vietnam, and act as a bridge to further develop the cooperation activities between the IMF’s departments and the Vietnamese agencies.
LK