The Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), scheduled from October 9 to 15 in Marrakech, will showcase “the strength” of Morocco, said IMF’s Director of Strategic Communications, Julie Kozack.
“After more than five years of hard work and preparations, I am confident that these meetings will showcase the strength of Morocco, the Moroccan people and the Moroccan authorities,” Kozack pointed out at a press conference.
The IMF official, who recalled that these meetings were originally scheduled to be held in Marrakech in 2020 before being postponed because of the pandemic, noted that these meetings will be held while being respectful of the situation in the country following the Al Haouz earthquake.
“We are conducting the meetings very mindful of the people of Morocco,” she said, adding that this is the first time in 50 years that the Annual Meetings will be held on the African continent.
This global event is also an opportunity to bring the global community together in a particular time, as the global economy is gradually healing from a series of chocs, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis, the IMF official stressed.
“We see this as a time to bring the global economy together to discuss how we can come together as a global community to overcome these challenges which are particularly affecting low income and vulnerable countries,” she added.
Kozack also underlined the importance of climate resilience, which, she said, will be a major topic at the Marrakech meetings.
The Annual Meetings will 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 climate change.