Belize City, Belize – October 10, 2026. Prime Minister John Briceño has departed Belize en route to Bangkok, Thailand, where he will join global policymakers, development leaders, and civil society stakeholders for the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group.
This year’s gathering marks the first time Thailand has hosted the annual event in 35 years, having last welcomed the international delegations back in 1991. Briceño is scheduled to participate in a full week of meetings from October 12 through 18, and will return to Belize on the final day of the summit. The Prime Minister’s Office has framed Briceño’s participation as part of the broader ancillary programming tied to the official annual meetings.
During the Prime Minister’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde – who also holds the cabinet portfolio of Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining – will serve as acting prime minister, overseeing all executive functions of the Belizean government until Briceño’s return.
The week-long summit brings together thousands of attendees across sectors, including official government delegations from 189 member nations, senior IMF and World Bank staff, representatives from civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders. The event’s agenda is packed with flagship discussions, policy dialogues, and working sessions focused on pressing global economic and development challenges.
On the World Bank’s side, key flagship events include an October 12 forum exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and the future of work, followed by an October 14 session focused on strategies to mobilize private capital to expand global employment opportunities. The Development Committee is scheduled to convene on October 15, with the Annual Plenary Meeting set for October 16, and the plenary of the International Monetary and Financial Committee scheduled to take place on October 17. Throughout the entire week, parallel programming including a Civil Society Policy Forum, academic seminars, and stakeholder workshops will run alongside the official government proceedings.
For its part, the IMF has programmed a topical October 13 session led by its Western Hemisphere Department that will examine Caribbean trade patterns and long-standing connectivity constraints that impact regional economic growth. The session is expected to draw input from regional leaders including Prime Minister Briceño, who will represent Belize’s economic priorities and development needs on the global stage.