Mr. Naji Mohammed Issa, Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, participated on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in the meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP) group, which was held with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and her accompanying team, on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

The meeting discussed a broad range of economic and development issues of mutual interest, foremost among them the slowdown in global growth, inflationary pressures, and challenges related to commodity and energy prices. Participants also reviewed the importance of central bank independence and explored ways to enhance regional and international cooperation to develop resilient fiscal and monetary policies capable of withstanding current geopolitical and economic disruptions.

The discussions further addressed mechanisms for financing sustainable development and the role of the private sector in economic recovery, in addition to challenges related to rising debt levels and the increasing cost of external borrowing. The meeting’s closing statement emphasized the need to coordinate positions among member countries within the forums of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to ensure that each country’s development priorities are taken into account, while strengthening regional financial safety nets.

It is worth noting that the Spring Meetings bring together senior economic officials from 190 member countries and are being held this year amid expectations of challenging global economic conditions, placing MENAP countries before critical tests to balance inflation control with growth stimulation.