Europe and Central Asia features in first 24-hour economics marathon

The World Bank Group will host the world’s first continuous 24-hour economics marathon, called the Econ-o-thon, to discuss, debate and draw attention to some of the most important development issues of our time. The 24-hour interactive livestreamed event, begins at noon (ET) / 16:00 (GMT) on the 24th July and will feature World Bank Group economists broadcasting from five countries, including Bangladesh, Jordan, Malaysia, Ghana and the United States.

The Europe and Central Asia Region will broadcast for 2 hours from 9:00 (ET) / 13:00 (GMT) on the 25th July. It includes a special segment exploring the dramatic reforms underway in Uzbekistan filmed on location in Tashkent. Vinayak “Vinny” Nagaraj, World Bank Senior Economist in Uzbekistan, interviews Deputy Minister of Finance Odilbek Isakov, Uzbek journalist, Nikita Makarenko, and business owners and entrepreneurs, Zafar Khashimov and Narmin Akramova who reveal how people’s lives are changing.

The ECA program will also feature Cyril Muller, World Bank Regional Vice President, Asli Demirguc-Kunt, World Bank Chief Economist for ECA, Apurva Sanghi, Lead Economist for the World Bank in the Russian Federation, and Faruk Khan, Lead Economist for the World Bank in Ukraine. You will also learn about countries development prospects from the World Bank's country directors Linda Van Gelder, Western Balkans, Arup Banerji, European Union, Sebastian Molineus, South Caucasus, Lilia Burunciuc, Central Asia, Auguste Kouame, Turkey, Andras Horvai, The Russian Federation and Satu Kahkonen, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.

A wide range of speakers will participate in the Econothon, including World Bank Group President David Malpass, World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Economist Pinelopi Goldberg and a cohort of Bank Group economists from around the world.

Other speakers include:

• Edward Brown, Director of Country Engagements and Operations, African Center for Economic Transformation
• Deema Bibi, CEO, Injaz
• Priya Shyamsundar, Lead Economist, Nature Conservancy

The sessions will cover key development issues, including:

• Trade and global value chains
• The economics of climate resilience
• The future of jobs
• Digital transformation in developing countries
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Debt sustainability
• The power of rankings to spur reforms
• Behavioral economics
• The blue economy

For further information, please visit:
Econ-o-thon Livestream: http://live.worldbank.org/econothon

Follow the event on social media using #Econothon on Facebook and @WorldBankLive on Twitter