10. Speeches of World Bank Presidents [collection under construction]

376 items available

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http://hdl.handle.net/10986/24239

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Building Knowledge Societies: Access, Empowerment, Governance

( 2000-03-06) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed the global knowledge partnership, which is central to the Bank’s work. The digital revolution brings opportunity. Knowledge can be transferred from developed to developing countries, but also that developing countries can exchange knowledge; that the knowledge learned in developing countries can come forward on an equal basis with the knowledge of development agencies, and in fact, change that knowledge, contour it, describe it in a way that can be effective and useful in the countries in development. Now, people in villages throughout the world having access to knowledge, to experience, to advice, and to guidance in real time. The Bank is looking at the prospect of putting together a global development gateway in which information is garnered from governments, federal and state and local, from civil society, from the private sector, and from multilateral and bilateral institutions.
Speech at the Multi-Sectoral Conference on Partnerships for Governance and Development

( 2000-02-26) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, noted that we face a worldwide challenge as the population in developing countries grows. What sort of conditions are those people going to live in? Is there going to be equity? Social justice? Peace? The world has changed in the last 50 years, with the private sector and market-oriented economies prevalent, with a more dynamic civil society. In the Philippines, one in three live in poverty. Addressing this must be done in a cooperative way. The Comprehensive Development Framework brings together stakeholders. Social programs will only work if there is an effective structure involving these elements: the first element is strengthening governance; second element is a proper legal and judicial system; third element is the issue of financial supervision and control; fourth element is social system in place; and fifth element is the issue of corruption. The issue of implementation and the issue of transparent review and accountability are tremendously important.
Remarks on the Comprehensive Development Framework

( 2000-02-23) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, remarked that the overwhelming pressure on the planet is a concern that affects all of us. The pressures on the environment, on health, on trade, on crime, on growth, on drugs, on immigration—all bring us close together in one planetary context. The Vietnamese economy is facing these issues as it tries to accommodate all these factors at the same time: the pressure of competition—competition for investment, the desire to relate the country to the international trading system, and the desire to create an environment which is hospitable to domestic and foreign investors and which spreads the wealth throughout in an equitable way. Through the Comprehensive Development Framework, the country should lead its citizens, civil society, the private sector, and the international institutions to set up not a series of projects but programs. These programs will identify the issues to be addressed over the next 10 years or 15 years. There needs to be some comprehensive form of review of process, and review of plans so that one can have an integrated approach, an approach that can be leveraged, that is participatory and that engages each sector of society.
Rethinking Development: Challenges and Opportunities

( 2000-02-16) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed his vision for development, addressing these topics: poverty and the development agenda; rethinking the approach; the global trading system and the development agenda; and the partnership imperative. He concludes that the Bank must work to realize an ambitious vision if we are to go forward together into a new century in which the long pent up aspirations of the poor of the earth are to have the chance for fulfillment that they deserve.
Remarks at the International Conference on Democracy, Market Economy, and Development

( 1999-02-26) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed what the Bank learned in coming to look at the issues of poverty and development. Development requires proper economic policies, but also the essential element of the social aspects and human aspects of society. The Bank’s focus is to think first in terms of poverty—fighting poverty with passion was adopted recently as the first line of our mission statement. Wolfensohn discussed an agenda for action on the issues of inclusion, corruption, transparency, education, knowledge, and private sector environment. How we attack this agenda must be a partnership between governments, multilaterals, such as the Bank, and the bilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society in all its forms—from non-government organizations (NGOs) to trade unions, from religions to foundations, from spokesmen for ordinary people.
Address to the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., March 25, 1998

( 1998-03-25) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group discussed the financial crisis in Asia which began with the emergence of the Thailand crisis. The history of Asian economic and social development has been one of enormous achievement. Since 1975 the number of people living in poverty has been reduced from 700 million to 340 million (roughly 20 percent of the population)—no small achievement. Generally, the region has had strong economic growth. Life expectancy has gone up significantly, while infant mortality has gone down significantly. Primary school enrollment approaches 100 percent. Fiscal management has been remarkable. What changed? We have a crisis now caused by private sector excesses, and to a degree government inaction in the area of supervision. The Bank is focusing on two things: reformation of the financial system, in terms of trying to get the regulation and control that is now being demanded by the Asian authorities themselves; and the impact on the people. Wolfensohn fielded a number of questions from the audience.
Emerging Trends in East Asia: New Directions in the World Bank's Partnership

( 1996-05-10) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, remarked that despite remarkable successes, East Asian countries face formidable challenges in sustaining their development in the face of large-scale changes taking place throughout the region. Increasingly, countries of the region confront common development policy challenges. Their common agenda must be the agenda of the World Bank Group if the Bank is to remain relevant to them. Responding effectively to these needs will require that the Bank Group forge new partnerships and revitalize traditional ones.