OCTOBER 18 — The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Bangkok last week have delivered a message that governments across the world, especially those in Asean, cannot afford to ignore.
When IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described the atmosphere of the meetings as one of “optimism and worry,” she captured the fundamental contradiction confronting the global economy in 2026.
An attendee walks past signage displayed inside the venue for the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok October 14, 2026. — AFP pic
There remains optimism because the international economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite geopolitical fragmentation, disruptions to global supply chains and the escalating conflict involving Iran.
