Press release 10 April 2008
Ministry of Finance
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Anders Borg and Gunilla Carlsson to World Bank and IMF meetings in Washington

Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson will be travelling to Washington tomorrow to take part in the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings on 12-13 April.

The global economic outlook will be a major theme of the IMF Spring Meeting, not least in light of the US housing crisis and the weakening global economy. Minister for Finance Anders Borg will represent the Nordic-Baltic constituency at the meeting of the IMF steering committee (IMFC) and will also address the meeting on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries.

An agreement has also been reached on reforms of members' voting power and influence in the Fund.
"We are especially pleased that the voice of the poorest countries is now being strengthened. Voting power in the IMF must better reflect the strength of the fast-growing countries in the global economy and the agreement is acceptable from this perspective, even if Sweden would have preferred an agreement that went a little further," says Mr Borg.

The meeting of the Development Committee of the World Bank will discuss progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The World Bank notes that the outlook for Africa and 'fragile states', or post-conflict countries, is bleaker than that for other regions. The effects of high food and raw materials prices on developing countries are also on the agenda.

"At the Spring Meetings the Swedish Government will be focusing on gender equality and climate change. I will be chairing a side event organised by the World Bank, and in that context I will be putting particular emphasis on the importance of the participation of teenage girls and young women," says Gunilla Carlsson.

Press conference

In connection with both Spring Meetings, journalists are welcome to attend a press conference with Minister for Finance Anders Borg, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and Governor of the Riksbank Stefan Ingves.