The Faculty of Business and Economics at Birzeit University held on February 26, 2013 a seminar entitled on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its local and international role. IMF Resident Representative in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Udo Kock was the guest speaker and the chairperson of the BZU Economics Department Riyad Mousa and Professor of Economics Said Haifa also participated.

Representative Kock presented a historical overview of the emergence of the IMF, as well as its policies and programs internationally and locally, with an emphasis on reducing the role of government and public spending. Professor Mousa then critiqued IMF role and policies in terms of economic theory and difficult living and economic conditions in Palestine.

The seminar closed with questions and discussion from the lecture audience of students and teachers.