IMF and World Bank Group announcment
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference (the “Bretton Woods Conference“), the IMF and the World Bank Group have announced the launch of a consultation aimed at developing a long-term vision for the future of the global economy, international cooperation, and the roles of the Bank and the Fund.
The Bank and the Fund are excited to announce the formation of a group of external advisors to guide this initiative. This group includes Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Finance of Indonesia; Patrick Achi, former Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire; and Mark Malloch Brown, former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN. Working closely with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, the advisors will lead discussions with global stakeholders on the projected shape of the world economy over the next 20‒30 years, the evolution of multilateralism, and how the Bank and the Fund can best support stability and progress towards a livable planet.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated: “As the IMF strives to meet the evolving needs of our global membership and efficiently deliver on our three core functions—economic policy advice, lending, and capacity development—we recognize the importance of a long-term perspective. This process will help us better understand potential futures and plan accordingly.”
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga remarked: “For 80 years, the World Bank has worked to improve lives and make the world a better place. This anniversary is an opportunity not only to reflect but, more importantly, to look forward and prepare for the challenges ahead. The world needs the Bank, and the next 50 years will demand even more from this institution than the past 80 years to achieve a world free of poverty on a livable planet.”
Biographies:
Sri Mulyani Indrawati has been the Minister of Finance of Indonesia since 2016. She is an internationally recognized expert in public finance, fiscal policy, and labor economics. Her previous roles include Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Bank Group, Minister of Development Planning of Indonesia, and IMF Executive Director. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Indonesia and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Patrick Achi served as Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire from March 2021 to October 2023. He previously held positions such as Secretary General of the Presidency and Executive Secretary of the National Council for Economic Policy, preparing Côte d’Ivoire’s Vision 2030 Strategic Development Plan, and Minister of Economic Infrastructure for 17 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the Université de Cocody, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from École Supérieure d’Électricité de Paris, a Certificate in Economics from the University of Paris 1‒Sorbonne, and an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford University. He has also been a senior fellow at the Center for International Development at Harvard Kennedy School.
Mark Malloch Brown most recently served as President of the Open Society Foundations and Co-Chair of the Board of the UN Foundation. His extensive career includes roles as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Administrator of the UNDP, Minister of State in the UK Foreign Office, Vice President of the World Bank Group, Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum, and senior advisor at the Eurasia Group. He began his career as a journalist and refugee worker and has founded or led the boards of numerous organizations, including the International Crisis Group, as well as being active in international business.
