WELLINGTON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) latest annual review of the New Zealand economy shows the government's economic plan will support growth and help close the infrastructure and social deficits that built up in recent years, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said on Wednesday.
The IMF's "Article IV" report backs the government's economic plan while providing a set of independent forecasts which indicate growth of about 3 percent a year over the next five years on the back of new, growth-friendly policies, Robertson said in a statement.
"The IMF specifically commented that our research and development tax incentive, the Provincial Growth Fund, our review of the tax system, trade policy and increased infrastructure investment will help the economy become more productive, sustainable and inclusive," he said.
Other specific policies including KiwiBuild, fees-free post-secondary training and the Review of the Reserve Bank Act also received positive reviews.
The IMF said that in the current economic environment, New Zealand's policy to raise the minimum wage is likely to have minimal negative impact on the economy, but that it will help ease income inequality.
"It's also important to pay attention to the risks to the economy that the IMF has highlighted," the minister said, adding these include potential for tighter global financial conditions and New Zealand households' high debt levels.?