At the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook put global growth at 3.1% and global inflation at 4.7%. While an AI boom is lifting technology-exporting economies, developing and climate-vulnerable regions face a double hit from high energy costs and climate disasters, and over 60% of low-income nations are in or near debt distress. Delegates argued for a two-part strategy: fiscal consolidation to service debt while protecting social safety nets, and aggressive investment in digital connectivity so developing economies can share in the tech recovery. Wayne Henry, Chairman and Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, said many developing economies need to catch up on digital connectivity to benefit from technological advances.
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