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

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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali Indonesia

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-11-15) Malpass, David

These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali Indonesia on November 15, 2022. He spoke about the developing world faces hunger, poverty, unsustainable debt, and learning poverty above 70 percent. Climate change makes all of these burdens worse. Farmers face droughts and floods. In poor countries, they face severe shortages of fertilizer and diesel. Underinvestment blocks access to electricity and clean water. Current global macro policies create a permanent drain on global capital, risking a long recession. The developing world needs much greater resources. The World Bank Group has achieved the largest increase in commitments in our history and greatly expanded trade finance. Regarding the debt crisis, it is urgent to create a more effective debt reduction process for low and middle-income countries that are in debt distress.
Remarks at the 2018 Annual Meetings Plenary

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-10-12) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discussed reducing poverty by using a three-pillar strategy. First, drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth by crowding in private sector investment, help countries manage debt levels, and harness the power of technology like FinTech. Second, build resilience to shocks and threats by taking urgent action on climate change, and help countries share the risks of disasters with the capital markets. Third, help countries invest more, and more effectively in their people to prepare for what is certain to be a more digitally-demanding future. He spoke in length about Human Capital Index.
Creating Opportunity and Prosperity in East Asia

( 2015-05-21) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses the opportunities and challenges facing the economic development of Indonesia and East Asia, and how the World Bank Group can help end extreme poverty and foster share prosperity more widely in the region. He remarked that the progress most admired about Indonesia is its accomplishment in reducing extreme poverty. The Group has aligned its work with two goals -- to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the population in low- and middle-income countries. The Program Nasional Pemberdayaan Mandiri, or PNPM, has helped distribute the gains from this growth more equitably across the population. He concludes saying that, we can make sure your successes help build a more just and equal world.
Transparency in Extractive Industries

( 2006-10-16) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, discussed the fight against poverty during the last 20 years, during which East Asian countries have made progress, but Sub-Saharan African poverty has doubled. Oil revenues far exceed official development assistance. Yet for some countries it has been more of a curse than a blessing. Corruption and waste has led to distorted economies and demoralized societies in which government power has become an object of plunder leading to civil war and social chaos. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) aims to improve governance in resource-rich countries through disclosure and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining. It focuses on transparency, which is one important aspect of governance—but it is an important step towards transforming resources into real development impact, to real effect on the lives of the poor. He spoke about EITI process still facing many challenges ahead. If EITI is to succeed, it must engage every group that has a stake in the country’s future. EITI process requires governments to significantly increase their capacity while coping with other pressing demands. Making EITI succeed means going beyond just EITI in making revenues more transparent. We need to begin a vigorous effort in the area of helping countries recover stolen assets. For most countries EI revenues by themselves will not be enough by themselves to guarantee higher living standards for all citizens. We must do everything we can to help these countries transform their wealth into a brighter future for every citizen.
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.
Accountants and Society: Serving the Public Interest

( 1997-10-26) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed how accountants can best serve the public interest. Over the last 15 years, the Bank have seen freedom blossom and with it an expanded role for civil society. Today five billion people live in a market system - up from 1 billion a decade ago. Lack of institutional capacity, poor governance, and public sector management remain major impediments to growth and development. The Bank is holding anti-corruption seminars and workshops for parliamentarians and journalists; making sure that our own processes meet the highest standards of transparency and propriety; and pushing ahead with deregulation, institutional, and policy reform. The Bank can and is working to improve accounting and auditing capacity building, in Ghana, Zambia, China, Pakistan, and Indonesia among others.