War, Debt and Energy Costs Set Bangkok Meeting Agenda

Finance officials meeting in Bangkok are expected to focus on the economic effects of the war involving Iran, rising public debt and uneven pressures from energy costs and artificial-intelligence investment. The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank run from Monday, October 12, through Saturday, October 17, with the IMF’s global economic forecast scheduled for Tuesday, October 13. The discussions come as higher energy and fertilizer prices, elevated interest rates and climate risks add pressure to economies already facing debt burdens. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has described the global economy as being pulled by opposing forces: an energy supply shock and demand associated with artificial intelligence. She has warned that their effects are uneven across countries. The IMF says public debt is at its highest level since World War II and is projected to exceed 100% of global gross domestic product before 2030. Developing and lower-income countries are particularly exposed to rising borrowing costs and capital outflows, while many have limited room to support households facing higher prices.