Treasury ministers, central bankers, civil servants and financial and development experts from all over the world have been present in the US capital since yesterday, Monday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have started their annual spring meetings in Washington. This year’s meeting is overshadowed by the consequences of the corona pandemic and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
Central topics in the deliberations will therefore be combating inflation, the development of the global economy, the fight against the pandemic and preventing a new hunger crisis in poorer countries.
Austria’s Finance Minister Magnus Brunner travels to Washington on Thursday. Yesterday he referred to Austria’s achievements: “In March, the World Bank announced that it would make 645 million euros available for loans and aid in Ukraine. Austria is contributing ten million euros to this program.”
In the meantime, the program has been expanded to more than 900 million euros. Another billion in immediate support was recently pledged with the consent of all donors, including Austria. This supports local aid and gives the Ukrainian government a financing option on the international markets in difficult times. Austria has many years of experience in financing in Eastern Europe, said Brunner.
The international meeting in Washington will take place partly as a face-to-face event and partly online. High-ranking politicians from Ukraine are also expected.
Source: Nachrichten
