The 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2026.
This is contained in a statement issued by the IMF Press Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
The statement said the decision was made in a vote by the Boards of Governors of the two institutions.
It said the last time the Annual Meetings were held in Bangkok was in 1991.
According to the statement, the Annual Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector leaders, civil society, media, and academics to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy.
“The meetings also discuss the world economic outlook, global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and job creation, climate change, digitalisation, and others.”
The statement said the Annual Meetings are usually held for two consecutive years at the IMF and WBG headquarters in Washington, D.C., and every third year in one of the institutions’ member countries.
It said the 2023 Annual Meetings will take place in Morocco in October, at which time there would l be an official signing ceremony for the 2026 Meetings in Thailand.
“A complete list of meeting sites is available on the Annual Meetings website.”
The statement said the IMF is an organisation of 190 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, and promote high employment and sustainable economic growth around the world.
It said the fund does this by offering policy advice, lending, and building capacity to its members.
“Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 190 countries that make up its near-global membership.”
The statement said The WBG plays a key role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.
“It consists of five institutions: The World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).”
Others are the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
“Working together in more than 100 countries, these institutions provide financing, advice, and other solutions that enable countries to address the most urgent challenges of development.”
