WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), together with the Moroccan government, announced Monday that they have agreed to proceed with holding the 2023 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings.
The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9-15 in the western Moroccan city of Marrakech.
"Since the devastating earthquake in Morocco on Sept. 8, the World Bank and the IMF staff have worked in close coordination with the Moroccan authorities and a team of experts to thoroughly assess Marrakech's capacity to host the 2023 Annual Meetings," World Bank President Ajay Banga, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui said in a joint statement.
"In undertaking this assessment, key considerations were that the Meetings would not disrupt vital relief and reconstruction efforts, and that the safety of the participants can be assured," the statement said.
Based on "a careful review" of the findings, the Managements of the World Bank and the IMF, together with the Moroccan authorities, have agreed to proceed with holding the 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakech.
The statement noted that it is of "utmost importance" that the meetings were conducted in a way that "does not hamper the relief efforts underway and that is respectful to the victims and the Moroccan people."
The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Morocco has risen to nearly 3,000 with more than 5,500 injured, according to the latest figures released by the Moroccan government. ■
