Switzerland at 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington
Bern, 13.10.2025 — Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, State Secretary Daniela Stoffel and Martin Schlegel, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, will attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington from 15 to 17 October 2025. The quarterly high-level G20 meeting on financial and monetary issues will also take place before the Annual Meetings. The Swiss delegation will additionally use the event for bilateral talks.
The meetings will focus on the current global economic, financial and development policy challenges. The strategic orientation, governance and funding of the IMF and World Bank will likewise be important topics. In the currently challenging international environment, it is very important for Switzerland to advocate economic openness in multilateral bodies and to use the meetings to strengthen bilateral relations. Sound public finances, price stability and a robust global monetary and financial system are also crucial.
In Switzerland's view, the IMF should focus on its core mandate in economic and financial matters, and help its member countries to implement policies that are geared towards growth and stability. Switzerland supports the IMF's corresponding efforts, for example in building state capacities and institutions in emerging market and developing economies.
Switzerland welcomes the World Bank's endeavours to create sustainable jobs in developing countries by improving framework conditions, mobilising private capital and investing in infrastructure and digital technologies. It is in favour of the World Bank working closely with other development players. Moreover, Switzerland supports the promotion of healthcare systems and vocational training, as well as the improvement of working conditions.
A meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will take place before the Annual Meetings. Among other things, Switzerland will call for a level playing field, growth-friendly rules and legal certainty in the area of international taxation. It will also support the strengthening of global financial stability.
Usually, the Head of the Federal Department of Finance leads the Swiss delegation to the Washington meeting. However, owing to a death in the close family of Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter, this role will be assumed by the Vice President of the Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Guy Parmelin. State Secretary Daniela Stoffel will represent the Federal President at meetings that fall within the remit of the Federal Department of Finance.