Gulf Bank participated in the 2024 Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, held in Washington, D.C., from October 21 to 27, 2024. The event brought together a significant number of policymakers and financial leaders from around the world.

The Gulf Bank team was led by Chairman Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, and included Acting CEO Waleed Khaled Mandani, Deputy CEO Sami Mahfouz, and Chief Marketing Officer Najla Aleisa.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group bring together finance and development ministers, Central Bank governors, senior bank officials, key figures from the private sector, civil society representatives, parliamentarians, and academics to discuss global issues of concern, such as economic outlooks and economic development.

The meetings feature a range of activities, including regional seminars, press briefings, and various events focused on international economics, development, and the global financial system.

This year’s meetings address several pressing topics, with a focus on assessing the performance of the global economy, anticipating future trends amidst ongoing crises and changes, tackling poverty, promoting sustainable development, enhancing monetary cooperation, and advancing international trade. The discussions cover a range of urgent issues, including food economy dynamics, accelerating gender equality, mechanisms for sustainable development, and the complexities facing global financial markets.

Participants are actively seeking solutions to global challenges, focusing on strategies for increasing funding, enhancing knowledge sharing, fostering private sector investment, and boosting resilience to future crises.

Global debt is a key topic at this year’s annual meetings, with finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world convening to assess the state of the global economy. Many countries are facing severe challenges due to rising debt levels, which have contributed to worsening living standards over the past decade.

During the Annual Meetings, Gulf Bank's team participated in a reception organized by the Kuwait Banking Association, bringing together representatives from Kuwaiti banks and numerous attendees from the meetings. Gulf Bank’s team also took part in a roundtable discussion with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, alongside other Kuwaiti representatives and leading American business figures.