Despite recent earthquake tremors in the North African nation, the much-anticipated Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are set to proceed as scheduled from October 9 to 15 in Marrakech, Morocco.
In a joint statement from Washington DC, World Bank President, Ajay Banga; IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva; and the Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, affirmed Marrakech’s capability and safety to host the event. They stressed that the conference’s proceedings won’t interfere with ongoing relief and reconstruction endeavors in the wake of the quake.
The detailed statement expressed, “Following the significant earthquake in Morocco on September 8, both the World Bank and the IMF have been collaborating closely with Moroccan officials and experts to ascertain Marrakech’s readiness for the 2023 Annual Meetings. Central to our evaluation was the assurance that the Meetings would neither hinder ongoing relief efforts nor compromise the safety of attendees.”
Upon reviewing the findings, the leadership of both the World Bank and IMF, in consensus with Moroccan authorities, decided to continue with the Meetings in Marrakech. They also highlighted the importance of adjusting the event in light of the recent tragedy.
The statement continued, “As we approach the Annual Meetings, our utmost priority is to ensure we respect the affected and the larger Moroccan community by not obstructing relief initiatives. We also see this as an opportunity for the global community to demonstrate solidarity with Morocco, which has shown remarkable resilience amidst adversity. Ensuring the safety of all attendees remains our unwavering commitment.”
