World Bank, IMF autumn meetings won’t be in Marrakesh but in Washington amid COVID concerns

The World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Monday that their annual autumn joint meetings will take place in Washington DC in October instead of Marrakesh, Morocco.

The decision was made due to the continued uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a joint statement by the World Bank and IMF. Marrakesh will host the October 2023 annual meetings, the statement read.

Morocco has been witnessing a surge in COVID cases in recent weeks, driving its government to declare a state of health emergency and restrict flights and travel to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019, the World Bank and IMF have held their meetings virtually. The anticipated spring meetings will also be held virtually next April.

The annual meetings usually take place for two consecutive years at the WBG and IMF’s headquarters in Washington DC and are held every third year in one of the member countries.

The meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media, and academics from worldwide 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.