WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it reached a staff-level agreement with Suriname on the second review of the South American country's loan program, which will make a $53 million disbursement available upon IMF executive board approval.

The IMF said that this would bring total disbursements under the $688 million, three year program approved in December 2021 to about $159 million so far. It added that Suriname has made "concerted efforts" to bring the program back on track amid a fragile economic environment.

(Reporting by David Lawder)