Washington: Kuwait participated in the annual spring meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held in Washington, D.C. from April 21 to 26. Leading the delegation was Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Aseel Al-Munaifi, who engaged in discussions with officials from the WBG and IMF regarding public finance reforms, government subsidies, wage and salary reforms, and methods to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Munaifi held meetings with Dr. Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF for the Middle East and Central Asia, and Ousmane Dione, WBG Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa. Both officials expressed their readiness to support and coordinate with Kuwait. Discussions also took place with Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, Executive Director of WBG, and Mohammed Maait, his counterpart at the IMF, focusing on enhancing cooperation and highlighting Kuwait's achievements in economic reforms.
Al-Munaifi's participation extended to a closed ministerial session organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance, which aimed to follow up on efforts related to supporting recovery and reconstruction in Syria, and addressing current economic challenges amidst rising geopolitical tensions. She commended the Middle East Center for Economics and Finance for its role in promoting sustainable economic development in the region.
Further, she met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development Roland de Marcellus to discuss recent economic reforms in Kuwait, including new laws aimed at boosting financial stability. The Kuwaiti delegation highlighted efforts in improving the business environment, digital transformation, and significant Kuwaiti investments in the US market.
The US official expressed satisfaction with the partnership between Microsoft and Kuwait. Both sides emphasized the importance of encouraging US firms to invest in infrastructure and housing cities, as well as enhancing economic collaboration and broadening partnerships to serve their mutual interests.