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

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Remarks from the G20 Finance Ministers Conference Call on COVID-19

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-03-23) Malpass, David

David Malpass, World Bank Group President, issued his remarks from the G20 Finance Ministers conference call, on the COVID-19 pandemic. These are difficult times for all, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable. For the World Bank Group, the first goal is to provide prompt support during the crisis, based on a country’s needs. It is also vital to shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong. On March 17, the World Bank and IFC Boards approved a USD14 billion package to respond to COVID-19. Of that, IFC is making USD8 billion available in relatively fast-acting financial support for private companies. IBRD and IDA will be making USD6 billion available in the near term to support health care. The Bank is currently restructuring existing projects in 23 countries, many of these through the use of contingent emergency response components. The Bank is also preparing projects in 49 countries in a new fast-track facility, with decisions expected this week on as many as 16 country programs. The World Bank’s Board will meet shortly, and it is expected that this first round of countries will provide a framework to quickly scale up over the next few weeks. The Bank and the IMF are ready to work quickly with official bilateral creditors and with other international organizations as partners to finalize a process by the Spring Meetings of our organizations in April.
Joint Press Conference on COVID-19 by IMF Managing Director and World Bank Group President

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-03-04) Georgieva, Kristalina ; Malpass, David

The IMF Managing Director and the World Bank Group President held a Joint Press Conference on COVID-19. The IMF Managing Director spoke in detail about the potential direct and indirect impact of coronavirus on the global economy. She explained about how the IMF response to the epidemic will be. She told that IMF is fully committed to support the members, coordinating very closely with partner institutions. She concluded by making an important point to focus on building a bridge between where we are and that time when we would see a recovery, to make sure that the impact, in meanwhile, is softened, first and foremost, on people, and also, of course, on businesses and the economy. The World Bank Group President spoke about how the Bank is working to provide a fast, flexible response, based on developing country needs. He told them about how the Bank is providing technical assistance, goods and services that will help prevent and limit the local transmission including laboratory equipment, and systems to ensure that cases of the virus are promptly identified and traced. He mentioned about the World Bank Group and IMF working closely with WHO on the cooperation with regard to procurement and other important technical matters. He summed up by saying that the speed and breadth of the response is crucial to its effectiveness, and that's what the Bank set out to do.
Discussion at the Center for Global Development

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-11-05) Malpass, David

David Malpass, President of the World Bank, addressed the common challenge presented by slowing world growth. He remarked that governance issues are apparent around the world. On matters of debt, he emphasized dispute settlement, debt contract transparency, contract fairness, and facilitating better living standards. He noted that some countries’ debt payments are in arrears.
Forty Years of Reform and Poverty Reduction: Remarks at the International Forum on China’s Reform and Opening Up and Poverty Reduction

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11-01) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about the following: i) understand China’s journey and get the historical record right; ii) understand China’s past reforms, because they are important for future reforms; iii) understanding China’s reforms is increasingly important for the rest of the world; iv) china’s reform and opening up program, which was the foundation for the rapid growth that allowed people to lift themselves out of poverty; v) a focused and sustained effort targeted at poverty reduction throughout the reform period.
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.
Remarks on Partnering to Address Severe Food Insecurity

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-09-23) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, said that this is a fundamental moral issue. The fact that tens of millions of people are at risk of starving to death is a tragedy. And in the 21st century, the fact that we haven’t ended famine is a collective failure of shameful proportions. It’s also a critical economic issue. From a human capital standpoint, famines raise child mortality, increase stunting, and impair cognitive development for children in utero at the time of the famine and of the children who survive. First, early warning must translate into early action. Investing in more proactive responses to avert humanitarian crises could save millions of lives, and it can also reduce the costs to the international community by as much as 30 percent. Second, we need sustained collective action, before, during, and after crises. Third, we need to work to develop more comprehensive approaches to famine prevention, preparedness, and early action.
Remarks at the Opening Press Conference at the 2018 Spring Meetings

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-04-19) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discussed a few items that are on the agenda for at these meetings. He launched the latest edition of our Global Findex financial inclusion database, which tracks how people use financial services. The World Bank Group is dedicated to ending poverty wherever it exists in client countries. He mentioned two specific initiatives to support that effort: first, a significant of new financial innovation; and second, to review all possible options to enhance IBRD and IFC's financial capacity and develop a package of measures for governors' consideration. He believes a good case for how a stronger World Bank Group can meet the aspirations of shareholders, respond to global challenges, mobilize capital at scale, and make the institution even more efficient and effective.
Rich and Poor: Opportunities and Challenges in an Age of Disruption

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-04-10) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about how before 1800 everybody was poor and lived in poverty. He referred to the young people now who may not own a smart phone, but who have access to smart phones. By 2025, as many analysts are saying, the entire world will have access to broadband. He examined three ways to end extreme poverty, that is, people living under 1.90 US dollars a day, by 2030. First, focus on inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Second, focus on fostering resilience to pandemics, climate change, refugees, fragility, conflict, and violence. Third, invest more and more effectively in people.
Speech at the GSMA 2018 Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-02-26) Jim Yong Kim

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about how mobile operators can and must play a critical role in achieving the two goals of the World Bank to end extreme poverty by 2030, and to boost shared prosperity among the poorest forty percent around the world. The World Bank Group asks how can we give everyone a chance to reach their aspirations? We must begin – right now, with a tremendous sense of urgency – to rethink in a fundamental way how connectivity, big data, and new technologies can create new drivers of economic growth and opportunities for all. We will need to give people the chance to learn the new skills needed in a rapidly changing market. Our ambition for our partnership with Big Data for Social Good is to harness mobile data to improve every one of our health, environment, energy, transportation, and urban projects across the globe.
Remarks at the National Press Club Headliners Luncheon

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017-11-20) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discussed building new foundations of human solidarity, at a time when those foundations are questioned and even under attack. Peace and stability are critical to our efforts to grow economies and help people lift themselves out of poverty. He reviewed the work of the World Bank Group, especially over the past three decades, and outlined the pillars of the current strategy: accelerating inclusive, sustainable economic growth, building resilience to overlapping shocks and crises, and investing more and more effectively in people.