Bangkok:Thailand will host the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the second time, marking it as the third country to do so outside the United States. The event, running from October 12 to 18, includes participation from Angola and is themed "Thailand's New Horizons Empowering People, Building Resilience."
According to Angola Press News Agency, this year marks the 82nd edition of the meetings. Thailand previously hosted the event 35 years ago in 1991. The meetings, usually held in Washington, D.C., are hosted in other member countries every third year. Past hosts include Istanbul and Tokyo, which have each held the meetings twice.
The meetings bring together central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector executives, and civil society representatives to discuss key global issues such as economic growth, financial stability, and climate change.
Thailand, classified as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank, is a leading economy in Southeast Asia with a strong export capacity and well-planned infrastructure. It plays a significant role in regional production chains, particularly in the automotive, electronics, and agro-industrial sectors.
Thailand's economy faces challenges such as moderate growth, an aging population, and household debt. However, it also offers opportunities in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy. Tourism, a vital revenue source, has been slow to recover, impacting economic growth.
Inflation in Thailand remained low in 2025, with expectations of a slight increase in 2026. Public sector debt was recorded at 64.8% of GDP in 2025, with a projected rise to 66.8% in 2026.
The World Bank and IMF annual meetings have their origins in the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference. Angola, a member since 1989, continues to strengthen its relationship with these institutions through various programs aimed at economic development and management improvement.
