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AlUla Conference Amplifies Emerging Economies’ Global Voice

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan (AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan (AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies)
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AlUla Conference Amplifies Emerging Economies’ Global Voice

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan (AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies)
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan (AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies)

The “AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies” was held at a crucial time, as the world and the region face significant economic, technological, and geopolitical shifts.

From tariffs that will impact international trade to the resurgence of inflation concerns and the resulting delay in expected interest rate cuts, the strengthening dollar and its effects on emerging markets, to the growing geopolitical conflicts—these and other factors undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for emerging economies.

The conference, organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Saudi Ministry of Finance, “marks an important step towards creating a platform that amplifies the voices of emerging economies on the global stage, allowing them to express their views and needs," said Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan at the conclusion of the two-day event.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference is expected to have a significant impact on shaping future economic policies in emerging economies.

This was evident through in-depth discussions among finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, and leaders from both the public and private sectors in emerging economies, as well as international institutions.

The talks covered a range of topics, from economic growth and financial stability to sustainable development, inflation, debt, and proposed strategies to support growth in these markets.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the event underscores its prominent position and leadership role both regionally and globally. It also highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting emerging economies and fostering cooperation among them.

Emerging economies undeniably play a key role in the global economy, driving 65% of global growth.
They continue to record strong growth rates, with the IMF projecting a 4.3% growth in 2025 and 4.2% in 2026, compared to a global economic growth of just 3.3% during the same period.

This translates into higher employment rates and increased consumer spending, positioning these economies as attractive destinations for investors seeking major opportunities.

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World Breathes Sigh of Relief as Trump Spares Fed, IMF

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of press onboard Air Force One on a flight to Fiumicino Airport near Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, April 25, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of press onboard Air Force One on a flight to Fiumicino Airport near Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, April 25, 2025. (Reuters)
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World Breathes Sigh of Relief as Trump Spares Fed, IMF

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of press onboard Air Force One on a flight to Fiumicino Airport near Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, April 25, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of press onboard Air Force One on a flight to Fiumicino Airport near Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, April 25, 2025. (Reuters)

Global policymakers gathering in Washington this week breathed a collective sigh of relief that the US-centric economic order that prevailed for the past 80 years was not collapsing just yet despite Donald Trump's inward-looking approach.

The Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were dominated by trade talks, which also brought some de-escalatory statements from Washington about its relations with China.

But some deeper questions hovered over central bankers and finance ministers after Trump's attacks on international institutions and the Federal Reserve: can we still count on the US dollar as the world's safe haven and on the two lenders that have supported the international economic system since the end of World War Two?

Conversations with dozens of policymakers from all over the world revealed generalized relief at Trump’s scaling back his threats to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the guardian of the dollar’s international status whom he had previously described as a "major loser".

And many also saw a silver lining in US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s call to reshape the IMF and World Bank according to Trump's priorities because it implied that the United States was not about to pull out of the two lenders that it helped create at the Bretton Woods conference of 1944.

"This week was one of cautious relief," Austria's central bank governor Robert Holzmann said. "There was a turn (in the US administration's stance) but I fret this may not be the last. I keep my reservations."

A politicization of the Fed and, to a lesser extent, the hollowing out of the IMF and World Bank are almost too much to fathom for most officials.

Deprived of a lender of last resort, some $25 trillion of bonds and loans issued abroad would be called into question.

NO ALTERNATIVE

At the heart of policymakers' concerns is that there is no ready alternative to the United States as the world's financial hegemon - a situation that economists know as the Kindleberger Trap after renowned historian Charles Kindleberger.

To be sure, the euro, a distant-second reserve currency, is gaining popularity in light of the European Union's newly found status as an island of relative stability.

But policymakers who spoke to Reuters were adamant that the European single currency was not ready yet to dethrone the dollar and could at best hope to add a little to its 20% share of the world's reserves.

Of the 20 countries that share the euro only Germany has the credit rating and the size that investors demand from a safe haven.

Some other members are highly indebted and prone to bouts of political and financial turmoil - most recently in France last year - which raise lingering questions about the bloc's long-term viability.

And the euro zone's geographical proximity to Russia - particularly the three Baltic countries that were once part of the Soviet Union - cast an even more sinister shadow.

With Japan now too small and China's heavily managed currency in an even worse position, this left no alternative to the dollar system underpinned by the Fed and the two Bretton Woods institutions.

In fact, the IMF and the World Bank could scarcely survive if their largest shareholder, the United States, pulled out, officials said.

"The US is absolutely crucial for multilateral institutions," Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told Reuters. "We're happy they remain."

Still, few expected to go back to the old status quo and thorny issues were likely to await, such as widespread dependence on US firms for a number of key services from credit cards to satellites.

But some observers argued that the market turmoil of the past few weeks, which saw US bonds, shares and the currency sell off sharply, might have been a shot in the arm as it forced a change of tack by the administration.

"When President Trump talked about firing Jay Powell, the fact that markets reacted so vigorously to that ended up being a disciplining reality just reminding the administration that, if you cross that line, it could have some very severe implications," said Nathan Sheets, global chief economist at Citi.