International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Georgieva stated at a press conference on the 15th that the IMF is deeply concerned about the disruption of oil and gas supply caused by the Middle East conflict, and the impact of supply disruptions may intensify in the coming weeks. She called on countries to take energy-saving measures to alleviate the supply-demand imbalance. The IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings will be held this week in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Georgieva said at the press conference that there is currently a supply shortage of oil and gas, petrochemical intermediates such as naphtha and helium, which has disrupted economic operations. This situation is prompting countries to rethink how to reduce energy demand. She urged countries to take immediate measures to reduce energy consumption and stated that some countries have already taken relevant measures, such as providing free public transportation for the public or advocating for working from home. Georgieva said that the impact of this conflict on the global economy is quite significant. Even if the conflict lasts for a short period of time, the destruction of infrastructure and supply chain disruptions are pushing up price levels, and global economic growth is expected to slow down to 3.1% by 2026. The latest World Economic Outlook report released by the IMF on the 14th shows that under the assumptions of "adverse scenario" and "severe downturn scenario", global economic growth may drop to 2.5% and 2% respectively. Georgieva stated that the impact of this conflict on economic growth and inflation will depend on the duration of supply disruptions and the extent of damage to energy infrastructure in the Gulf region. The construction of new energy sources and transportation routes requires time. During this period, countries should take measures to reduce the impact of supply-demand imbalances. (New Society)