Barbados has joined an international effort to establish a panel focused on tackling inequality, as countries raise concerns about the growing economic gap between wealthy and developing nations.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced the country’s support during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok. She highlighted the links between inequality, poverty, employment opportunities and global conflict, while pointing to climate change and artificial intelligence as additional challenges.

The proposed initiative has attracted support from 15 countries, including Barbados, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Norway, Germany, Mexico, Iceland, Japan and Bangladesh. Supporters are working towards a United Nations General Assembly resolution to formally establish the panel before next summer.

Norway’s Minister of International Development, Asmund Aukrust, said further countries could join the effort. Meanwhile, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and declining development assistance could widen the divide between advanced and developing economies.

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