Bangkok:Secretary of State for Finance and the Treasury Ottoniel dos Santos represented Angola at the first meeting of the Governing Council of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Borrowers' Platform held in Bangkok, Thailand, at the United Nations Conference Centre. This meeting was part of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the inaugural session aimed to confirm the membership of the Borrowers' Platform and adopt its founding document, outlining the platform's operational and governance framework. Furthermore, the event included the election of the first chair of the Governing Council, defined common priorities, and approved a joint statement on sovereign debt and development financing.
The Borrowers' Platform, launched on 15 April 2026 in Washington, DC, is designed to unite developing countries dependent on external financing. The initiative seeks to enhance cooperation among these countries, improve knowledge sharing on debt management, and boost their involvement in international financial discussions.
The Annual Meetings, running from 12 to 18 October under the theme 'Thailand's New Horizons Empowering People, Building Resilience', offer Angola a chance to strengthen institutional dialogue with the World Bank, IMF, and other development partners. Angola's participation allows for engagement in global economic discussions and the presentation of developing countries' priorities in financing and international cooperation.
Leading the Angolan delegation is Secretary of State for Planning Luís Epalanga, along with the Governor of the National Bank of Angola, Manuel Tiago Dias; Secretary of State for Finance and the Treasury, Ottoniel dos Santos; Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port Sectors, Adilson Catala, and officials from these ministerial departments. The Annual Meetings serve as a platform for finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss major global economic challenges.
