Addis Ababa, October 12, 2026 (FMC) — The 2026 IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings are underway in Bangkok, Thailand, with practical artificial intelligence, job creation, small-business financing and private investment in emerging markets taking centre stage in a week of discussions on global development.
Running from October 12 to 18, the meetings bring together global economic and financial leaders to address development priorities, investment opportunities and the challenges facing emerging and developing economies.
The World Bank Group has unveiled a programme of public events that will be streamed live through its World Bank Live platform, enabling audiences worldwide to follow the discussions without registration. The institution will also provide daily updates and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the week.
One of the featured events, *How Small AI Creates Jobs Where It Matters Most*, brings together World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, leaders and innovators to explore how affordable, practical artificial intelligence can move beyond pilot projects to deliver tangible benefits.
The discussion examines opportunities to apply AI in areas such as agriculture, business operations and public service delivery, with a focus on solutions that can generate meaningful impact in developing countries.
Another key event, *The Floor Is Yours: Civil Society Meets World Bank Leadership*, gives civil society representatives and online participants an opportunity to question Banga and the institution’s managing directors about recent developments and the World Bank’s global development agenda.
The programme also addresses the financing constraints facing small and medium-sized enterprises in developing economies. Under the theme *Invisible No More: How Data Can Get Small Businesses Funded*, policymakers and financial experts explore how data can help businesses gain access to finance.
The World Bank Group notes that small and medium-sized enterprises account for nine out of every ten businesses in developing economies. With 1.2 billion people expected to enter the workforce over the next decade, expanding access to finance for businesses capable of generating employment remains a major development priority.
Investment in emerging markets features in another session, *Making Emerging Markets Investable*, which brings together investors, regulators, insurers and development finance leaders to explore ways to mobilise private capital.
Discussions focus on capital markets, local-currency financing, guarantees and policy reforms that can reduce investment risks, unlock opportunities for businesses and support economic growth and job creation.
The Annual Meetings will also feature a plenary session with Banga, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Annual Meetings Chairman Carlos Carvallo Spalding, President of the Central Bank of Paraguay.
The week’s programme offers a platform for discussions on how emerging technologies can expand employment opportunities, how businesses in developing economies can secure financing, and how private investment can contribute to sustainable economic growth.