At the open of the 2019 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged policymakers to resolve trade tensions, promote sustainable growth and invest in human capital. 

In a keynote speech at the Plenary on Friday, Georgieva urged governors of the member nations to work together. 

“We need to step up cooperation within and across borders. What does that mean? It means that countries must work together to find a lasting solution on trade and keep tensions from spilling over into other critical areas such as currencies and technology. Here, the recent announcement by the United States and China is a step in the right direction. The goal should be to move from trade truce to trade peace. To build a better trade system, one that is fairer, more innovative, more inclusive,” said Georgieva. 

She added that policymakers need to pursue policies that improve lives of regular people. 

“Focus on what matters most to people in their daily lives – better jobs, higher wages, greater access to finance, more opportunities for women, more opportunities for young people. These are all areas where we need more potent reforms, more public and private investment. And, this would help countries to make their economies both more competitive and more inclusive. The goal is to unlock the full potential of human capital in all countries.” 

You can watch the video of the full event at IMF.org