Joint IMF – RFAs Press Release on the 11th High-Level RFA Dialogue

On 13 October 2026, the Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) convened their 11th Annual High-level Dialogue in Bangkok, Thailand, at the margins of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Following severe flooding in Bangkok and several areas across Thailand, participants expressed their solidarity with the Thai authorities and all those affected. Opening the Dialogue, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva provided an overview of the global economic outlook and the policy challenges arising from an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment at a time when buffers and policy space have been eroded. MD Georgieva highlighted the significant potential of technological innovation, including AI, to support productivity and economic growth, while underscoring the importance of timely policy action to unlock these gains and manage new and evolving vulnerabilities. The IMF and RFAs discussed the implications of AI for the financial stability and the resilience of the Global Financial Safety Net. Exchanges explored how technological advances could enhance efficiency within the financial system, while giving rise to new operational and cyber risks. Participants emphasized the importance of closely monitoring these developments and ensuring strong international cooperation to safeguard stability. Delegations also exchanged updates on institutional developments. The IMF provided an update on the comprehensive set of policy reviews undertaken this year to upgrade the Fund’s surveillance, program design, financial sector assessments, debt analysis, and external sector assessments. The IMF and RFA representatives reaffirmed the value of the High-level Dialogue as a trusted platform for strategic engagement and cooperation among institutions responsible for safeguarding regional and global financial stability. They welcomed the continued engagement among RFAs and the IMF and looked forward to the next High-level RFA Dialogue, which will take place in Washington, D.C. in October 2027.