As the future host country of the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakech in 2023, Morocco is in the spotlight throughout the current edition of the meetings of these two institutions which take place from October 10 to 16 in Washington. A rich program of promotion of the Kingdom was set up in the headquarters of the two international institutions on the occasion of this conclave marked by the return to face-to-face format following the pandemic.
Several key activities have highlighted the economic, tourist and cultural attractiveness of Morocco and succeeded in creating enthusiasm around the annual meetings of the two institutions scheduled for the ocher city in October of next year. At the headquarters of the IMF, Moroccan craftsmanship is honored through a pavilion built on an area of 125 m2 by the Maison de l’artisan. The pavilion is divided into several exhibition, sales and entertainment spaces. These spaces, which reflect the richness and diversity of the facets of Moroccan craftsmanship, are animated by craftsmen working in weaving and leather goods, a calligrapher, a henna tattoo artist, in addition to an exhibition of carpets and Moroccan outfits, and space selling handicrafts.
Throughout the week of this major event, hundreds of people a day flock to the Moroccan crafts pavilion, including senior representatives of official delegations from the Member States of the two institutions present at these annual meetings.
Visitors who were able to appreciate the authenticity and creativity of the players in Moroccan craftsmanship, were also able to discover the characteristic hospitality of the Kingdom symbolized by a tea ceremony organized at the end of each day on the sidelines of this pavilion. The annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF are held mainly in Washington and, every three years, in a member country other than the United States, in order to mark the international character of the two institutions.
These meetings bring together central bank governors, finance ministers, representatives of academia, business leaders, parliamentarians, members of civil society organizations, and journalists for a week to discuss policy issues. scope, including economic prospects, financial stability, the impact of climate change and aid effectiveness.
The Marrakech edition in 2023 marks the return of these assemblies to Africa following those held for the first time in Nairobi, Kenya in 1973.