The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva has said she cannot think of any better place to host the IMF and the World Bank annual meetings than Morocco.
“Morocco is a country that bridges Africa, the Middle East, and Europe,” she said in a video that the IMF published on Saturday via Twitter, noting the country’s cultural diversity and rich history.
Georgieva also emphasized the country’s economic assets, describing Morocco as a” place where ideas flourish.”
In addition to the importance of the country’s economic role, the IMF managing director made sure to pay tribute to Moroccan people, describing them as “wonderful.”
The video documenting the IMF official statement was filmed near Chellah, a landmark place in Morocco’s capital Rabat.
Georgieva recalled that the annual meetings will take place four months from now, specifically from October 9-15.
Last year, Georgieva said that she was “particularly proud” of choosing Africa as a host of the group’s meetings, stressing that it will serve as a “great opportunity” to raise awareness globally as the world faces multiple crises.
Thrilled to be back in Morocco 🇲🇦- a country that bridges Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The perfect place for our Annual Meetings. #Marrakech2023 pic.twitter.com/xzFurB5mqr— Kristalina Georgieva (@KGeorgieva) June 17, 2023
“We are living in a time of great challenges for the global economy but especially for the people, especially in many African countries. I am very proud that we have chosen to meet in Africa for our annual meetings after 50 years of absence,” Georgieva siad.
She made the remarks during a visit to the pavilion of Morocco, set up as part of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in the US.
Morocco’s central bank governor, Abdellatif Jouahri, also conveyed the country’s satisfaction with hosting the event, saying that it is proud and honored to host next year’s meetings of the World Bank and the IMF.
“With the Managing Director of the IMF, we agreed that the message of Marrakech will be a message directed first to the youth, because the youth must remain confident in the future of this world, with paradigm shifts, institutions that can provide solutions and countries that act in the same direction,” said Jouahri last year.