KYIV, Jan 15 (Reuters) – International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters on Thursday that the IMF is ready to support Venezuela but needs its major shareholders to recognize the country’s leadership and those authorities to seek IMF assistance.
Georgieva, in an interview with Reuters during a visit to Ukraine, said that despite almost no communication with ousted President Nicolas Maduro’s regime since 2019, the Fund has been keeping “a watchful eye on the economy” in Venezuela to try to assess its trajectory.
“So we have a good understanding, and we are ready,” Georgieva said. “If there is an opportunity to support the people of Venezuela, you can be sure the Fund will be there.”
She said that she was concerned that 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country in recent years – a greater portion of the population than Ukraine’s outward migration due to Russia’s invasion – dramatically shrinking its economy.
“Inflation is picking up. We worry about hyperinflation re-emerging in Venezuela,” Georgieva said.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Writing by David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
