The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday at an investor forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that the war between Israel and Hamas is already affecting the economies of neighboring countries.

"Look at the neighboring countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, where the impacts are already visible," said Kristalina Georgieva, quoted by Lusa.

Georgieva's statement comes a day after senior financial figures warned, at the opening of the investor forum in Riyadh, of a possible blow to the global economy caused by the war between Israel and Hamas.

"What we're seeing is more nervousness in an already anxious world. There are countries that depend on tourism and uncertainty is detrimental to tourist flows," said the IMF managing director.

Describing the specific risks for the region, he stressed that "investors will be reluctant to go to these countries, that the cost of insurance - if you want to transport goods - will increase and that there are risks of an increase in the number of refugees in countries that already host many of them.

More than 6,000 delegates are taking part in Riyadh for three days in the annual conference of the Future Investment Initiative, including the heads of the world's leading banks and companies, and the presidents of South Korea, Kenya and Rwanda.