IMF and World Bank annual meetings: discussion on the global economic situation in the context of geopolitical fragmentation and continuity of support to Ukraine
On 15-19 October, Vice-Minister of Finance Januš Kizenevič will visit Washington, D.C., where he will attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). The events will discuss the global economic outlook and the aim to maintain stability in a context of geopolitical fragmentation and uncertainty, Europe's goal of increasing defence spending to strengthen regional security, and the continuity of financial support to Ukraine. On the margins of the annual meetings, an agreement will also be signed with the IMF on technical assistance to Lithuania in closing the value added tax (VAT) gap.
"The role of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, is extremely significant in this period of uncertainty - both in the context of managing geopolitical risks, analysing the situation and providing important policy recommendations that help keep the global economy on the path to stability, and in coordinating the response to global crises, providing support to developing economies and continuing to support Ukraine, which is courageously fighting against Russian aggression", Vice-Minister of Finance J. Kizenevič stated.
On 15 October, the Vice-Minister of Finance will discuss the macroeconomic situation and prospects of Europe and Lithuania with IMF Mission Chief for the Euro Area Malhar Nabar as well as participate in a high-level roundtable discussion on Ukraine, meet with World Bank’s Executive Director for the Nordic and Baltic countries Sigrun Rawet and representatives of CITI Bank.
A meeting of the Baltic countries with IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li will also take place on that day, where the situation of the Baltic economies in this tense period will be discussed, the possibilities of a new IMF programme for Ukraine, and the possible design of the programme will be discussed.
On 16 October, the World Bank Nordic-Baltic Group and the Development Committee will meet, where the country representatives will discuss the global economic situation and expected risks, guidelines for overcoming them as well as ways to promote countries' development and the resilience of economies to external shocks. The IMF Nordic-Baltic Group meeting will focus on Ukraine's economic prospects, ongoing reforms, and further securing financing needs for the country, which is experiencing Russian aggression. Later, these issues will also be discussed with IMF Ukraine Mission Team Leader Gavin Gray and IMF Europe Department Deputy Director for Ukraine Uma Ramakrishnan.
At the meeting with representatives of the IMF Mission to Lithuania, the Vice-Minister of Finance will present the development of the Lithuanian economy and potential challenges, the main aspects of the draft Sate budget, and discuss the current situation of defence spending.
On Friday, the plenary session of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Boards of Governors will be held, and a technical assistance project with the IMF will be signed, on the basis of which the IMF will provide consultations to Lithuania on reducing the VAT gap and shadow taxation. The Vice-Minister will also have a bilateral meeting with Vice-Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova.
On Saturday, meetings are planned with World Bank Vice President Antonella Bassani and IMF First Deputy Managing Director Daniel Katz, and a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the IMF Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) region will be held.
During his visit to Washington, the Vice-Minister will also meet with EU Ambassador to the United States Jovita Neliupšienė and Ambassador to the United States Gediminas Varvuolis.
Last updated: 15-10-2025
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