International Monetary Fund, the IMF (International Monetary Fund, IMF) - a specialized agency of the United Nations, with headquarters in Washington, DC, USA.

At the Bretton Woods conference of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Affairs July 22, 1944 was to develop a framework agreement (Charter of the IMF). The most significant contribution to the development of the concept of the IMF made by John Maynard Keynes, who led the British delegation, and Harry Dexter White - a senior official of the US Treasury. The final version of the agreement the first 22 states signed December 27, 1945 - the official date of the creation of the IMF. IMF began operations March 1, 1947 as part of the Bretton Woods system. In the same year, France took the first loan. The IMF now unites 188 countries in its structures and working 2,500 from 133 countries.