Minister Gina leads delegation to IMF, World Bank meetings

MBABANE – The Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Dr Thambo Gina, is leading an Eswatini delegation to the World Bank Spring Meetings to be held in Washington D.C.

These are annual meetings where key global economic and development priorities are being deliberated.

The high-level meetings, scheduled from today to April 18, 2026, bring together Finance ministers, Central Bank governors, development partners and private sector leaders from across the world to assess economic trends, development financing and policy responses to emerging global challenges.

The Spring Meetings will run concurrently with the IMF Spring Meetings, which will be attended by the Minister for Finance, Neal Rijikenberg, highlighting Eswatini’s coordinated approach to engaging multilateral financial institutions on both fiscal and development fronts.

The IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings are among the most influential gatherings in the international financial calendar. Each year, they bring together Finance ministers, Central Bank governors, private sector leaders, civil society organisations and academics to deliberate on urgent issues shaping the global economy.

The 2026 Spring Meetings will be held under the theme ‘Building Prosperity Through Policy’. 

This theme underscores the critical role of sound policy frameworks in driving prosperity, particularly in regions grappling with structural challenges and climate vulnerabilities.

In his capacity as governor for the World Bank, Minister Dr Gina is expected to lead critical discussions centred on the performance of Eswatini’s current project portfolio supported by the institution. This includes assessing progress, identifying implementation bottlenecks and ensuring that funded projects continue to deliver tangible socio-economic benefits.

A key component of the discussions will also focus on financing priorities under the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

These two financing windows remain crucial in supporting Eswatini’s infrastructure development, social programmes and broader economic reform agenda. Particular emphasis is expected to be placed on sustaining reform implementation, as the country continues to pursue policies aimed at strengthening economic resilience, improving the business environment and unlocking inclusive growth.

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