Morocco will host IMF and World Bank meetings in October as planned

The Moroccan city of Marrakech, one of those affected by the earthquake that took place on 8 September, will continue to host the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, scheduled for October.

As confirmed by Abdellatif Jouahri, governor of the Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) of Morocco, Marrakech will host the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to be held between 9 and 15 October.

Despite the damage caused by the earthquake, which particularly affected the provinces to the south of Marrakech and the oldest part of the city, the authorities believe that security is guaranteed and that the meetings can be held as planned.

Jouahri made these statements before the "Road to Marrakech" conference, which brought together representatives of central banks from the Middle East and North Africa.

It is an event that serves as a preparation for the meetings of the two international bodies, which are held every three years in one of the developing economies that has witnessed the adoption of sound economic and governance policies, to serve as an example for other countries. Previous meetings were held in Indonesia in 2018 and Peru in 2015.

Incidentally, just before the 2018 meeting, Indonesia was hit by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused severe damage, but plans went ahead and the planned meetings were held.

As confirmed by the Moroccan authorities, despite the damage to the historic centre of Marrakech, the modern part of the city as well as the planned venue for the meetings and the airport are in perfect condition.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the meetings in Marrakech, including delegations from the 197 member states, media representatives, non-governmental organisations and representatives of civil society.