Economy

IMF, World Bank and WTO: Roles and Headquarters

The IMF and the World Bank were created at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944 and are headquartered in Washington, D.C. The World Trade Organization (WTO) replaced GATT on 1 January 1995 and is headquartered in Geneva. India is a founding member of all three.

Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Quick comparison

IMF: promotes international monetary cooperation and financial stability and lends to countries facing balance-of-payments problems. Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
World Bank (IBRD and IDA): provides loans and grants for development and poverty reduction. Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
WTO: sets rules for trade between nations and settles disputes. Headquarters: Geneva. Its highest body is the Ministerial Conference, which meets at least every two years.
GATT: the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1948), replaced by the WTO after the Uruguay Round (Marrakesh Agreement, 1994).

Other multilateral banks

New Development Bank (BRICS bank): headquarters in Shanghai.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): headquarters in Beijing.
Asian Development Bank (ADB): headquarters in Manila.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the WTO headquartered?

Geneva, Switzerland.

Which organisation replaced GATT?

The World Trade Organization, on 1 January 1995.

Where is the New Development Bank headquartered?

Shanghai, China.