Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will visit Apia, Samoa, on March 23, 2012 to address a high-level conference co-hosted with the Government of Samoa on "Fostering Inclusive Growth and Building Resilience" in the Pacific islands.

The event will bring together leading policy makers from 10 Pacific island nations, representatives from regional development partners, international organizations, academia, and the private sector.

"I am very much looking forward to my first visit to the Pacific islands region as Deputy Managing Director of the IMF. Despite vast differences, the Pacific island countries face common challenges arising from the size of their economies, vulnerability to external shocks, and the need for economic diversification and policy flexibility. This conference is a good opportunity to share knowledge and inter-regional experiences, and to work together to tackle the challenges the Pacific islands face under the current global environment," Mr. Zhu stated.

The conference will focus on how the Pacific islands can increase resilience to external shocks and broaden the region's growth base, with a particular emphasis on the role of the private sector in country specific and regional development.