BANGKOK is set to become the centre of global economic policymaking, as thousands of finance ministers, central bank governors, development leaders and financial experts will converge on the Thai capital for the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group.
The week-long meetings, scheduled for October 12 to 18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), will bring together policymakers and private-sector leaders at a critical period for the global economy, with discussions expected to focus on economic stability, investment, job creation, climate finance and sustainable development.
The meetings mark Thailand’s return as host of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, for the first time in more than 35 years.
Under the theme: ‘Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience’, the Thai government is seeking to use the gathering to advance its priorities around digital transformation, global economic resilience, climate finance and demographic change.
At the heart of Thailand’s agenda are four policy pillars.
The first is Digital and AI Transformation for Inclusive Growth, which will examine the use of digital public infrastructure, including Thailand’s PromptPay system and cross-border QR payments, as well as artificial intelligence to improve public services, healthcare delivery and fiscal policymaking.
The second pillar, Building Resilience in a Fragmented World, focuses on strengthening international cooperation amid geopolitical and economic fragmentation. Thailand is expected to promote the role of middle powers as bridges for global cooperation while positioning itself as a hub for Asian trade, finance and investment.
The third pillar seeks a New Financial Architecture for Climate Adaptation, with emphasis on reforming international climate-financing mechanisms, supporting equitable energy transitions and mobilising private capital for climate adaptation projects.
The fourth pillar, Demographic Shift and the Longevity Economy, will examine how countries can turn ageing populations from a structural challenge into new sources of economic activity and financial innovation.
Beyond Thailand’s priorities, the meetings will provide a platform for the IMF and World Bank Group to advance their respective global economic agendas.
The World Bank Group is expected to focus on mobilising private capital for jobs and infrastructure, the application of smaller-scale artificial intelligence solutions in emerging markets and measures to promote inclusive growth.
The IMF, meanwhile, will use the meetings to address inflation, interest rates, sovereign debt and global financial stability, alongside the release of key economic assessments, including the World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report.
The programme begins with flagship seminars from October 12 to 14, covering artificial intelligence, private capital mobilisation and regional economic developments.
The Development Committee Ministerial Session is scheduled for October 15, followed by the Official Annual Meetings Plenary Session on October 16. Discussions will continue on October 17 with the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Plenary Session.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga will lead the international financial institutions at the meetings, with high-level discussions expected to centre on capital mobilisation and global financial stability.
European policymakers are also expected to play a prominent role, with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and France’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty, Roland Lescure, among senior participants.
Other major economies are expected to be represented by United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China’s Finance Minister Lan Fo’an and United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey.
From Southeast Asia, Singapore Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim are expected to participate in discussions on regional economic resilience and integration.
Thailand’s preparations are being overseen by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, working with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
The main meetings will also be complemented by private-sector and civil-society events addressing issues ranging from anti-corruption and financial-sector security to monetary policy, green transition, climate adaptation and corporate social responsibility.
The host country also plans to use the meetings to showcase Thailand’s cultural identity, with local textiles and traditional designs incorporated into event spaces.
Regional Thai cuisine and Geographical Indication-certified ingredients will also feature prominently in the catering programme, including dishes incorporating GI rice varieties, Betong chicken, Sakon Nakhon wagyu, Nakhon Si Thammarat macadamia and Khao Yai ingredients.
For Thailand, the meetings represent not only an opportunity to host some of the world’s most influential economic policymakers, but also a platform to attract investment, promote its role in regional finance and position its economic priorities within the global policy debate.