BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand is gearing up to host the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul set to chair the first national preparatory meeting on May 11.
According to Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek, the high-profile conference, taking place in Bangkok from October 12 to 18, 2026, is set to welcome around 15,000 participants from the institutions’ 191 member countries. Attendees will include finance ministers, central bank governors, investors, economists, business leaders, and international media representatives.
The event is considered a strategic opportunity to elevate the country’s standing on the global economic and financial stage amid heightened global uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, energy challenges, and the rapid evolution of financial technology. Thailand is one of only three countries to have hosted the IMF-World Bank annual meetings twice, alongside Japan and Türkiye.
Under the theme “Thailand’s New Horizon: Empowering People, Building Resilience,” authorities plan to use the platform to present Thailand’s economic policies, enhance international cooperation networks, attract investment and tourism, and showcase Thai soft power to a global audience. (NNT)
