Bank of the Lao PDR published a readout of its delegation’s participation in the 2025 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, held 11–20 October 2025. The programme included multilateral and regional sessions as well as bilateral engagements with IMF technical departments covering economic developments in Lao PDR and the region and work related to technical assistance. During the meetings, the delegation joined the Strategic Dialogue with ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, the 56th meeting of the IMF Southeast Asia Voting Group, and the International Monetary and Financial Committee. The update highlights discussions on the global economy, global financial stability and development issues including economic tensions, forecasting, poverty reduction and the effectiveness of international support, and cites the IMF’s World Economic Outlook 2025 projections of global growth easing from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, with global inflation expected to continue falling. It also summarises IMF policy advice to coordinate monetary and fiscal policies, maintain a focus on reducing inflation and preserving price stability, strengthen fiscal positions through deficit reduction, revenue measures or more efficient budgeting, manage foreign exchange and capital flows, and address trade tensions by recalibrating trade policies to fit economic conditions and support transparent cooperation.
Bank of the Lao 2025-10-20
Bank of the Lao PDR reports on participation in the 2025 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Washington DC
Bank of the Lao PDR shared insights from its delegation's participation in the 2025 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, focusing on economic developments in Lao PDR and the region. Discussions covered global economic stability, poverty reduction, and IMF projections of global growth easing to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, with inflation expected to decline. The IMF advised coordinating monetary and fiscal policies, reducing deficits, managing foreign exchange, and recalibrating trade policies to address tensions.