Economic leaders choose Ottawa

The Canadian capital is a safe neutral venue

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have confirmed that their delayed annual meetings will now be held in Ottawa on 17-18 November.

The meetings were originally due to be held in Washington at the end of September, but were postponed following the 11 September attacks.

In addition to the logistical disruption caused by the attacks, meeting organisers were wary of the likelihood of mass demonstrations, as previously seen at similar events in Prague, Seattle, London and elsewhere.

The new date and location will coincide with a rescheduled meeting of the G20 group of industrialised and developing countries, which had been due to take place this month in New Delhi.

Tighter focus

The IMF/World Bank meetings, traditionally one of the main events of the financial year, are likely to be on a more modest scale this time around.

In a brief statement, the IMF said that this year's event will focus almost wholly on the effects of the US attacks on the world economy.

The Fund plans to publish an interim version of its World Economic Outlook, the most keenly-awaited analysis of and forecasts for the global economy.

Ministers and central bank governors aim to discuss "the tragic events of September 11; their impact, in particular, on the poorest; the ongoing work to improve the stability of the international financial system; and preparations for the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Financing for Development," the IMF said.