The International Monetary Fund published opening remarks by Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the Asia in 2050 Conference in Bangkok, setting out policy priorities for Asia amid heightened global uncertainty. She noted that the IMF is assessing and quantifying the regional and global economic ramifications of the new conflict in the Middle East, with findings to be reflected in the World Economic Outlook to be published next month. The remarks focused on three challenges for Asia: raising productivity by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), managing labour market pressures, and preserving trade-led growth through deeper regional integration. IMF estimates cited in the speech suggest AI could lift Asia’s annual GDP growth by up to 0.8 percentage points, conditional on productivity impacts and labour interactions, and would require investment in digital infrastructure, connectivity and skills, alongside policies including appropriate AI guardrails and deeper stock and bond markets. On demographics, Georgieva cited IMF research pointing to risks for “middle” jobs and entry-level roles from automation, and noted that the number of Asians aged 65 or more is projected to double by 2050. On trade, IMF analysis referenced in the remarks suggested that lowering non-tariff barriers through closer regional trade links could raise Asian GDP by 1.8 percent in the long run. Looking ahead to the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings to be held in Bangkok in October, the IMF plans to highlight Asia’s digital payment innovations by making safe and inclusive digital finance a key theme.

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