By Zainab.joaqué@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In an ambitious move aimed at revitalizing global economic growth, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has launched the Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth. This newly established council brings together influential leaders from business, finance, academia, and government, united by a common goal: to craft policies that fuel innovation, enhance resource allocation, and ignite private sector-driven economic expansion.
“The global economic outlook for the coming years is at its most uncertain in decades,” Georgieva shared during the inaugural meeting. “The primary cause of this slowdown? A significant decline in productivity growth.” She underscored the council’s critical mission to address these issues by fostering macroeconomic and financial policies that nurture entrepreneurship and productivity—two vital engines of long-term growth.
The council boasts a powerhouse of members, including renowned figures such as Professor Ufuk Akcigit from the University of Chicago, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Salesforce Co-Founder Marc Benioff, Banco Santander Executive Chair Ana Botín, Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle, Heirs Holdings Founder Tony Elumelu, Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert Smith, and Argentina’s Minister of Finance, Federico Sturzenegger.
Georgieva emphasized the strategic importance of the council’s work, noting that “The insights and recommendations generated here will shape the IMF’s ongoing research and policy agenda, directly influencing macroeconomic and financial strategies designed to foster productivity and secure a more robust economic future for all our member nations.”
The council will meet quarterly, following Chatham House rules to encourage open and transparent discussions. Its focus will be on breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship and improving the global economic framework, aiming to deliver actionable solutions for a more sustainable economic recovery. This initiative further underscores the IMF’s commitment to addressing the productivity crisis and driving lasting economic prosperity across its 191 member countries. ZIJ/1/4/2025
 Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has launched the Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth. This newly established council brings together influential leaders from business, finance, academia, and government, united by a common goal: to craft policies that fuel innovation, enhance resource allocation, and ignite private sector-driven economic expansion.){kind=link}