Frequently Asked Questions

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The Annual Meetings are a collection of events that take place in October around the yearly gathering of the Board of Governors, which includes official representatives from the 190 countries that are members of both institutions.
They are one of the top economic conferences in the world.
The Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance, academics, private sector executives, parliamentarians, civil society organization (CSO) representatives, and journalists to discuss issues including the economic outlook, financial stability, jobs and growth, poverty eradication, development, and aid effectiveness.
Timing and rotation:
- Usually held for two consecutive years at the IMF and WBG headquarters in Washington, DC, and every third year in another member country.
- The 2017 meetings will take place in Washington, DC.
- The 2018 Annual Meetings will take place in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia, in October.

Process steps:
- Begins with an expression of interest in writing by the authorities of a member country.
- Followed by a bid document detailing how the country will meet key requirements, such as conference space, number of hotel rooms, information technology capabilities, and security.
- Countries that meet the key requirements are shortlisted for site inspection by teams from the IMF and WBG.
- Based on site inspection conclusions, Executive Board members of both institutions make a recommendation to the Board of Governors.
For 2018:
- Indonesia was selected as the host country.
- A key factor was that Nusa Dua, in Bali, met the key requirements, with existing conference venues and accommodation facilities, appropriate information technology and audiovisual infrastructure, and convenient local and international transportation.

General benefits to a host country:
- Increased tourism and investment and business opportunities that last long after the meetings are over.
- With about 10,000 people attending for a weeklong series of events, the Meetings offer an unparalleled platform for the host country to project itself onto the global stage, showcase its achievements, and highlight its economic potential for investment and growth.
Benefits specific to Indonesia:
- Puts Indonesia in the spotlight on the world stage and highlights its importance in and rising role regarding global issues.
- Provides a platform for Indonesia—and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region more broadly—to showcase impressive social and economic achievements in recent years.
- Strengthens Indonesia’s position as a leading global destination for conferences and visits, projecting Indonesia as a well-organized venue for hosting high-level gatherings.
- Local improvements anticipated include airport facilities, roads, local tourism, and digital connectivity, despite Bali already being a world-class destination with appropriate infrastructure.

Reducing the Meetings’ environmental footprint is identified as a key objective.
Measures stated:
- Extensive use of digital channels.
- Purchased equipment (computers, desks, etc.) will be donated to serve the people of Indonesia.

Indonesia is one of the IMF’s 190 member countries.
Membership benefits listed:
- Ongoing access to other major economic players in the global economy and the ability to influence the global debate on key issues of interest—for example trade and international taxation.
- Access to technical assistance and training in key economic and financial areas, like monetary policy, reserve management, and banking supervision.
- More broadly, IMF membership promotes global economic and financial stability, which fosters a better economic environment for Indonesia’s industries and exports.

The Annual Meetings in Bali are an opportunity for Indonesia and Asia to reaffirm their importance and influence on the global stage.
Indonesia is described as an emerging powerhouse in Asia, with increasing global influence as one of the next largest emerging markets in the world.
For the IMF:
- The Meetings in Indonesia present another opportunity to strengthen engagement with a fast-growing region, with six economies represented in the G20.
- Following the approval of quota reform in 2010, Asia now holds about 20 percent of the IMF’s voting shares, representation that is more closely aligned with the region’s position in the world economy.