World Bank, IMF postpone annual meetings

MANILA, Philippines — The World Bank Group (WGB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that the annual meetings scheduled to take place in Marrakesh, Morocco in October 2021 will be postponed to 2022 because of the still raging pandemic.

The annual meetings are usually held for two consecutive years at the WBG and IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C. and every third year in another member country.

The conferences gather central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics to discuss issues of global concern.

These include the world economic outlook,  as well as the condition of global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and job creation, and climate change

The WBG, which works in 100 countries, consists of five institutions: The World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association; the International Finance Corp.; the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

These institutions provide financing, advice, and other solutions that enable countries to address the most urgent challenges of development.

IMF, as the lender of last resort, is governed by and accountable to the 190 countries that make up its near-global membership.