The Palestine Monetary Authority reported remarks by Governor Yahya Shunnar at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, calling on the IMF to play a greater role in response to the pressures facing the Palestinian economy and banking sector. He also urged an elevation of the State of Palestine’s representation within the IMF to enable more effective presentation of its economic and humanitarian needs in international forums. Speaking at a meeting of Middle East and North Africa central bank governors and finance ministers attended by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Shunnar highlighted challenges linked to difficult economic conditions and escalating impacts from the ongoing Israeli aggression, and pointed to the role of the IMF, the World Bank and other international financial institutions in supporting reconstruction and promoting financial and banking stability in Palestine. He thanked Saudi Arabia and Qatar for backing the representation request, and expressed appreciation to Sudan, Iraq, Algeria and Mauritania for their supportive positions; he also reaffirmed commitments on transparency and financial and economic reforms. Georgieva acknowledged the concerns raised and indicated the IMF would work toward establishing appropriate mechanisms to respond to these requests.
Palestine Monetary Authority 2025-04-24
Palestine Monetary Authority Governor urges the IMF to strengthen support for Palestine and upgrade its IMF representation
At the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, Palestine Monetary Authority Governor Yahya Shunnar urged the IMF to address pressures on the Palestinian economy and banking sector, and called for increased Palestinian representation. He highlighted challenges from economic conditions and Israeli aggression, emphasizing the need for international financial support. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged these concerns and committed to developing mechanisms to address them.