IMF forms new advisory council, includes renowned Turkish economist Ufuk Akcigit
Entrance of the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C, U.S, on Mar. 4, 2017. (Adobe Stock Photo)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the formation of a new advisory council focused on entrepreneurship and economic growth, with renowned Turkish economist Professor Ufuk Akcigit among its distinguished members.
In the IMF’s press release, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized that the council is expected to support the Fund’s analytical work and contribute to the development of more effective macroeconomic and fiscal policies.
During the council’s inaugural meeting on March 29, Georgieva emphasized the need to strengthen the global macroeconomic and financial environment to support long-term, sustainable growth driven by productivity gains. She noted that medium-term global growth prospects are at their weakest in decades, largely because of a slowdown in productivity.
“The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their insights on how macroeconomic and financial policies can foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key elements for a dynamic private sector and robust economic growth,” she said.
Besides Professor Akcigit, the council includes prominent figures such as Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States; Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce; Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander; Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chair of Tata Group; Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone; Tony O. Elumelu, Founder and Chair of Heirs Holdings; Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; and Federico Sturzenegger, Argentina’s Minister of Deregulation and State Reform.
The IMF advisory council is expected to meet approximately every three months under Chatham House rules to inform the Fund’s policy research and help promote stronger medium-term economic growth in member countries.
About Ufuk Akcigit
Professor Dr. Ufuk Akcigit, born on May 23, 1980, in Germany, is an internationally recognized Turkish economist. His academic work primarily focuses on economic growth, innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity.
In 2023, he was awarded the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award, one of Germany’s most prestigious honors in economics. He collaborates with leading institutions, including the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and the Brookings Institution.
