Conflict in the Middle East: Implications for the Global South and the road ahead

On May 26, Prof. Syed Munir Khasru, Chairman of IPAG, met Mr. Pablo Saavedra, Vice President for Prosperity, World Bank and Ms. Laura G Jaitman, Director for Multilateral Economic Affairs, at the World Bank HQ, in Washington, DC.

The meeting focused on the Middle East conflict and its implications for developing economies, particularly through energy security, food and fertilizer costs, inflation, public finance, trade routes, and pressure on vulnerable communities.

Prof. Khasru shared his perspective on why these risks require early policy attention before they turn into deeper development setbacks. The discussion also included possible areas for continued IPAG-World Bank engagement through research, dialogue, and multi-layered cooperation on cross-functional areas.