Dubai 2003 and UAE delegations hold meeting with World Bank President

The meeting took place during the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and was attended by UAE Minister of State for Finance and Industry, Mr. Mohamed Khalfan bin Khirbash, UAE Central Bank Governor Mr. Nasser Al Suwaidi and Dubai 2003 General Coordinator Mr. Ibrahim Belselah.

Speaking from Washington, Mr. Ibrahim Belselah, said: "We enjoyed a very successful meeting with Mr. Wolfensohn where we were able to update him on the status of the arrangements for the Annual Meetings to be held in Dubai in September.

"He told us that the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were looking forward to holding the event in United Arab Emirates - the first time the Annual Meetings have ever been held in an Arab country and an Arab City."

Also attending the meeting was Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Vice-President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group who participated in a fact-finding visit to Dubai in January of this year.

Dubai 2003 General Coordinator Mr. Ibrahim Belselah is leading a delegation attending the Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund being held in Washington DC. The annual two-day event is the biggest gathering of the two organisations outside of the Annual Meetings held every September and this year will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

During the meetings in Washington, Mr. Belselah will also meet with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Mr. Horst Köhler. The visit gives the Dubai 2003 delegation a valuable opportunity to meet with counterparts from the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and update them on the status of preparations to host the meetings in September.

The Dubai 2003 team includes representatives of specialist committees established to handle specific tasks relating to the arrangements and logistical requirements of organising this event, which is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. Dubai and the UAE was selected because of its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.

ENDS