According to a letter signed by Masood Ahmad, Director, External Relations Department, IMF, and Carl Hanlon, Manager, Communications, World Bank, the Annual General meeting and other related events will bring together officials from the 185 member countries of the IMF and the World Bank Group (WBG), representatives from civil society and the private sector, members of the international press and senior staff of the IMF and WBG.

During the meetings, Mr. Saine together with other officials will have access to various events including all official press briefings, the program of seminars, and the plenary sessions of the meetings. The activities of the program that kicks off yesterday will end on the 14thOctober 2008.

It should be noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the (WBG) introduced a joint donor-supported sponsorship program in 2006 to offer journalists from developing countries the opportunity to directly cover the annual meetings.

Speaking to The Point shortly before leaving, Mr. Pap Saine expressed gratitude to both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for inviting him to this very important General Assembly meeting.

“This is a big boost for The Point Newspaper and the Gambian media,” he said.