By Ngozi Onyeakusi–In a bid avoid large gathering in view of the fast spreading coronavirus, IMF/World Bank Group has said that the 2020 Spring Meetings of the multilateral institution will be conducted daily by virtual channels. . This means that all registration for all delegates has been suspended. A message sent to Businessnewsreport.com.ng reads “Our records indicate that you have recently registered, or applied to register, for the 2020 IMF-World Bank Group Spring Meetings. Given growing health concerns related to the COVID-19, the IMF and World Bank Group have agreed to adapt the 2020 IMF-World Bank Group Spring Meetings to virtual format, to avoid a large-scale gathering. Our overriding priority is to ensure the health and safety of Spring Meetings participants and staff.

What does this mean for registered participants?

“Registration for all categories of participants (Delegates, Observers, Guests, Press, and CSOs) is now suspended. All previous confirmations will be cancelled. Official delegates who will participate in the official sessions will receive further instructions from the Secretary and from the office of their Executive Director of the respective institution. Be assured that we remain fully committed to maintaining a continuous dialogue with our stakeholders and we will leverage our IT-related and virtual connection capabilities to the fullest to hold our essential policy consultations with the membership. We will also continue to share IMF and World Bank analysis. As in the past, information regarding the IMFC and DC will be posted on IMF Connect and IMF.org. Our flagship publications – the World Economic Outlook, the Global Financial Stability Report, and the Fiscal Monitor – will be released on time, through virtual press conferences.

In a joint statement Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Mr. David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group said “Like everyone else around the world, we have been deeply concerned by the evolving situation of the Coronavirus and the human tragedy surrounding it. Given growing health concerns related to the virus, the Management of the IMF and World Bank Group and their Executive Boards have agreed to implement a joint plan to adapt the 2020 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings to a virtual format. Our goal is to serve our membership effectively while ensuring the health and safety of Spring Meetings participants and staff.

“We remain fully committed to maintaining a productive dialogue with our stakeholders and will leverage our IT-related and virtual connection capabilities to the fullest to hold our essential policy consultations with the membership. We will also continue to share IMF and World Bank analyses. With this adapted format, we are confident that our member countries will be able to effectively engage on pressing global economic issues at these Spring Meetings.”