Parliamentary Engagement and Spring Meetings Priorities of the WBG and IMF.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a transformative opportunity to revolutionize industries, boost productivity, drive economic growth, and create jobs. However, its rapid advancement also poses a significant risk: exacerbating existing economic inequalities, both within and between nations. While advanced economies may gain substantial advantages, emerging markets and developing economies risk being left behind due to AI infrastructure and skills gaps. Beyond inequality, AI raises critical ethical, accountability, and transparency concerns. Effective AI governance demands a collaborative approach, involving governments, the private sector, international organizations, financial institutions, lawmakers and civil society. This session will explore perspectives from parliamentarians, the WBG, and the IMF on harnessing AI's potential and shaping its future. The session will discuss strategies to maximize AI's benefits while minimizing its risks, ensuring equitable distribution and establishing robust governance frameworks that prioritize safety, fairness, and ethics.

To unlock the transformative power of private capital for economic growth and job creation, targeted reforms are essential. Parliamentarians, and governments, as policy architects, must prioritize an enabling investment environment. This means crafting legislation that reduces red tape, ensures regulatory clarity, and establishes predictable fiscal policies. The WBG and IMF provide critical support by fostering macroeconomic stability and offering technical expertise and lending to mitigate investment risks. This session will delve into the practical steps these actors can take together: identifying key reform areas, designing effective implementation strategies, and fostering a dialogue that attracts private investment, especially in emerging and low-income economies, leading to sustainable and inclusive development.

Attracting private capital for sustainable growth, job creation, and fostering entrepreneurship demands targeted reforms. Parliamentarians and governments are central to shaping the legislative and regulatory landscape to build investor confidence and support a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. This includes streamlining bureaucratic processes, enacting clear and supportive legislation that empowers entrepreneurs and workers, ensuring transparent governance, and creating predictable fiscal frameworks. The WBG and IMF play a vital supporting role, providing technical assistance and financial stability, crucial for de-risking investments, particularly in emerging markets where entrepreneurial activity can be a significant driver of growth. This session will explore how these key players can collaborate to implement specific reforms—from strengthening contract enforcement and modernizing financial regulations to promoting access to finance for startups—that unlock private capital, drive inclusive growth, build resilient economies, and cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial environment.