Akhannouch Visits Location of Annual WB, IMF Meetings in Marrakech

Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch chaired on Monday the 3rd meeting of the National Steering Committee for the organization of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakech, and visited the location where these high-level meetings will be held in October.

Accompanied by members of the National Steering Committee for the organization of these meetings, the Head of Government visited the various venues where these General Meetings will be held to see for himself the state of preparations and the capacity of the infrastructures in place to welcome in the best possible conditions 14,000 high-level participants, including Ministers of Economy and Finance and Governors of Central Banks from 189 member countries.

Akhannouch and the members of the National Steering Committee were briefed on the site and its various facilities and infrastructures.

The Head of Government, who also took the opportunity to chair the 3rd meeting of the Steering Committee, highlighted the influence that the Kingdom has now attained by hosting prestigious world events, recalling the achievements made in terms of infrastructure and structuring projects under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Akhannouch also stressed that the choice of Morocco to host a global meeting at the level of the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, which are held every three years on a different continent, reflects the special interest of the international financial institutions in the Kingdom, noting that this event provides Morocco with the opportunity to make the voice of the African continent heard by the international community.

He also called on the parties concerned, the ministries and the local authorities of the city of Marrakech to make every effort to ensure the success of this important event and to guarantee the best conditions to welcome the participants.

For her part, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, indicated that this third meeting of the National Steering Committee, which saw the participation of all partners at the central and local levels, was devoted to the progress of work on the site to host these important events, and the scientific program of the event, noting that these annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF return to the African continent, after the first time was held in Nairobi, Kenya, fifty years ago.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, said that this third meeting of the National Steering Committee, attended by all central and local partners, was dedicated to the progress of work on the site hosting these important events, and the scientific program of the event, noting that these annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF return to the African continent, after the first one was held in Nairobi, Kenya, fifty years ago.

In a statement to the press, the Minister further explained that this global meeting, dedicated to the examination of various issues related to the financial domains and the private sector, provides an opportunity to highlight the major achievements achieved by Morocco, as well as the investment opportunities offered to international investors over the last twenty years, in accordance with the orientations of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in order to support the Kingdom’s efforts in this direction and to shed light on the dynamism that Morocco is experiencing, in the image of the entire African continent.

The meeting of the Steering Committee was attended by Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of the Interior, Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Fatim Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy, Fatima Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Laila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Mohamed Abdeljalil, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdellatif Jouahri, Wali of Bank Al Maghrib, Karim Kassi-Lahlou, Wali of the Marrakech-Safi Region and Governor of the Marrakech Prefecture, Fouad Yazourh, Ambassador and Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, and Adel El Fakir, Director General of the Moroccan National Tourist Office.

These annual meetings focus on six main themes: financial and digital inclusion, sustainable development, reform of international financial institutions, entrepreneurship and innovation, social safety nets, and tolerance and coexistence.

The World Bank Group-IMF meetings are an annual event that brings together senior international economic and financial leaders to propose solutions to the challenges of the future.