IMF, World Bank: April meetings to be held in ‘virtual format’
The twice-yearly meetings of the development lending institutions attract thousands of officials and private sector participants from 180 member countries
The spring gathering of finance ministers and central bankers held in Washington in April will be shifted to a "virtual format" due to the coronavirus epidemic, the IMF and World Bank said Tuesday.
The twice-yearly meetings of the development lending institutions attract thousands of officials and private sector participants from 180 member countries — just the kind of gathering health authorities say should be avoided.
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass said in a joint statement that "given growing health concerns related to the virus," they will switch "to a virtual format" for the meetings set for April 16-18.