The Annual Meeting of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has returned to Africa after 50 years, kicking off today in Marrakech, Morocco, to address issues of international significance. With around 14,000 participants and more than 189 member states of the IMF and the WB, participants include leaders in the public sector (central banks, ministries of finance and development, MPs) and the private sector, as well as civil society organizations, youth, media and academic researchers.
The opening session featured a presentation of an IMF book on the Kingdom, entitled “Morocco’s Quest for Stronger and More Inclusive Growth,” attended by members of the Moroccan government.
Published by the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department, the book provides a broad overview of Morocco’s economic progress in the past few decades and its agenda of structural reforms going forward, with introductory prefaces signed by Morocco’s Head of Government and the IMF’s Managing Director.
Parallel to the meetings are separate events that will address a variety of significant issues, such as the energy crisis, climate challenges, immigration, international cooperation, and post-Covid-19 recovery, as well as political and economic developments at the international level.
On Sunday, the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) organized two friendly games at Marrakech’s Grand Stadium. The first 30-minute match combined former Moroccan players of both genders, while the second featured mixed teams made up of World Bank and IMF personnel.
Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, Governor of Morocco’s Central Bank, Abdellatif Jouahri, and Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, Faouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate for the Budget and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, along with Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Ben Said, and the national team’s coach, Walid Regragui, all participated in the friendly game.
More than 2,500 students from earthquake-affected regions cheered passionately as they watched the matches wearing Moroccan national jerseys. These children have been relocated from villages in impacted areas to complete their studies in Marrakech.
The IMF Director left the field shortly after the start of the two matches, where she went up to the stands and mingled with the children, who embraced her warmly.