Event | 2026 Annual Meetings Plenary - World Bank Live

Read Ajay Banga’s remarks at the 2026 Annual Meetings Plenary. The Annual Meetings Plenary opened with a vibrant celebration of Thai music and dance, followed by remarks from Annual Meetings Chairman Carlos Carvallo Spalding, President of the Central Bank of Paraguay, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga, outlined a development model centered on creating jobs at scale by bringing together public finance, private investment, philanthropy, and technology around country priorities. He highlighted progress in mobilizing private capital, expanding access to energy, health, and water, supporting MSMEs, and putting practical AI to work. His message: with 1.