The 2023 World Bank-IMF annual meetings will take place in Marrakesh as planned from October 9 to 15 despite the earthquake that hit the country on September 8.
In a joint statement released Monday, the WB President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva have affirmed that there is no change in the venue and that they agreed to go ahead with organizing the 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakech as scheduled.
The WB-IMF confirmation comes after meeting Moroccan PM Aziz Akhannouch and Minister of Economy & Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui who assured the leaders of the two international financial institutions of the country’s capacity to host the event and honor all its commitments.
“Since the devastating earthquake in Morocco on September 8, the World Bank and the IMF staff have worked in close coordination with the Moroccan authorities and a team of experts to thoroughly assess Marrakech’s capacity to host the 2023 Annual Meetings”, said the Bretton Woods Institutions statement.
“Based on a careful review of the findings, the Managements of the World Bank and IMF, together with the Moroccan authorities, have agreed to proceed with holding the 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakech, adapting the content to the circumstances”, underlined the statement.
“We believe that the Annual Meetings provide an opportunity for the international community to stand by Morocco and its people, who have once again shown resilience in the face of the tragedy,” added the WB and IMF.
The Annual Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media, and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and job creation, climate change, and others.