Key facts
- Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan stated that the Middle East is divided by the ongoing crisis.
- Gulf states are better prepared for shocks than vulnerable nations.
- Vulnerable nations require support.
The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has highlighted a divide between the region's vulnerable economies and those better prepared to withstand the turmoil, Saudi Arabia's finance minister said on Saturday. Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva attended a news conference by the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) in Bangkok on Oct. 17. The minister's comments suggest that while Gulf states are better positioned to handle economic shocks, other nations in the region may require assistance.