The Cabinet approved a central budget of 1.1 billion baht to prepare Thailand as the host for the 2026 World Bank - IMF meeting, expecting around 15,000 participants from worldwide.
On 28 April 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved the budget preparations for Thailand to host the "2026 Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund." They approved a budget framework of 1,162.27 million baht from the 2026 fiscal year's central contingency fund for emergencies or necessities and assigned the Budget Bureau to allocate these funds to the Fiscal Policy Office, the main responsible agency, to proceed with hosting preparations.
The spokesperson added that this budget approval is necessary to cover preparations for the meeting venue, registration areas, information technology systems, office equipment, supplies, and furniture, all in accordance with the IMF and World Bank's standards. These preparations must be completed before the scheduled inspection of the readiness of the meeting venue by the IMF and World Bank, which will occur between September and October 2026, to ensure the venue is ready for the meeting from 12 to 18 October 2026.
Hosting this meeting will demonstrate Thailand’s capabilities and readiness to host an international conference. It will serve as a significant platform to showcase Thailand’s economic ideas and promote key policies to the global community, as well as provide opportunities to expand cooperation and learn from member countries on various topics.
“The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is the world's most important economic and financial event. It aligns with the government's policy to 'build Thailand’s role on the global stage' and strengthen cooperation with international economic and development organizations. Participants will include Finance Ministers as World Bank Governors from 189 member countries and Central Bank Governors as IMF Governors from 191 member countries, with an expected attendance of approximately 15,000 worldwide,” the spokesperson said. . (The spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office stated.)