ZCZC
BFF-40
IMF-WORLDBANK-VIRUS
URGENT
IMF, World Bank: April meetings to be held in ‘virtual format’
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – 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.
BSS/AFP/MRU/0020hrs