Bangkok:The 82nd Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund commenced on Monday in Bangkok, Thailand, with a delegation from Angola participating. The week-long event is being held under the theme "Thailand's New Horizons Empowering People, Building Resilience."
According to Angola Press News Agency, Angola's delegation is led by the Secretary of State for Planning, Luís Epalanga, and includes notable figures such as the Governor of the National Bank of Angola, Manuel Tiago Dias, the Secretary of State for Finance and Treasury, Ottoniel dos Santos, and the Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Maritime, and Port Sectors, Adilson Catala.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized the potential of simple artificial intelligence solutions to enhance productivity and job creation in developing countries. He noted that promoting these applications is a priority for the World Bank and the Global Jobs Council, which studies the impact of economic and technological changes on the labor market.
Participants at the meeting, including leaders from business and investment sectors and young people, are engaging in discussions on artificial intelligence, job transformation, skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The focus is on how these elements can create new opportunities and the policies needed to prepare youth for a rapidly evolving global economy.
The official agenda features significant events such as the G24 Ministerial Meeting, the African Caucus with World Bank and IMF leadership, and the Development Committee meeting. The meetings aim to address challenges facing the global economy and explore paths to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth.
Topics such as private capital mobilization, job creation, technological innovation, and economic resilience are central to the discussions, deemed crucial for economic transformation and inclusive development.
This meeting marks the second time Thailand hosts the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, the first being in 1991. Angola, a member of both organizations since 1989, has been working to strengthen its ties with them through programs enhancing management, investment mechanisms, and promoting economic and social growth. The World Bank and IMF also hold Spring Meetings annually in April in Washington, furthering their ongoing global economic initiatives.
