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

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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the 2022 Ibrahim Governance Forum

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-05-25) Malpass, David

These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the 2022 Ibrahim Governance Forum on May 25, 2022. He spoke about the world is facing a dangerous period of overlapping crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, debt, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He explanied that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the overlapping crises. He spoke about climate interventions and projects offer large global public good benefits, but many require substantial external funding as well as a comprehensive policy framework. He emphasized the importance of strong governance and sound institutions to confronting climate challenges in Africa, the area which is at the core of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s work. He highlighted that the Ibrahim Index of African governance is vital in understanding the overall trajectory of governance in Africa and informing decision-making processes, including in response to climate change. He said that building a more climate-resilient Africa does not mean slowing down development or the progress toward achieving SDG7. He concluded by saying that various steps will be essential in Africa’s transition from subsistence farming to productive economic activity in agriculture, services, industry, and public sectors.
Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the African Consultative Group at the 2022 Spring Meetings

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-04-22) Malpass, David

These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the Development Committee at 2022 Spring Meetings on April 22, 2022. The war in Ukraine is an added challenge to catastrophic droughts, the surge in food prices, and disruptions of food supply chains. An estimated 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to face food insecurity in the coming months. In Ethiopia, South Sudan and Madagascar, there were no rains for the past three years. In the Horn of Africa alone, twenty-five million people are facing famine. The Sahel faces drought, environmental degradation, displacement, poor trade integration, and the deteriorating security situation are key factors. Cameroon, the Gambia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa were major importers of agri-food products originating from Russia. Djibouti, Egypt, and Tunisia have already been experiencing high food price inflation over the past year owing to the region’s dependence on cereal imports.
Remarks at the Western and Central Africa Regional Media Roundtable

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-05-20) Malpass, David

World Bank Group President David Malpass spoke about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has taken a toll on African lives, economies, and livelihoods. The World Bank intends to invest and mobilize about $150 billion over the next five years in Africa to support the continent’s recovery from the pandemic and its long-term development. He urged countries that expect to have excess vaccine supplies to release their excess as soon as possible to developing countries that have delivery programs in place. He emphasized the need for greater transparency in contracts between governments, pharmaceutical companies, and organizations that are involved in vaccine production and delivery so that financing can be directed effectively, and countries can plan for receipt and deployment. The World Bank yesterday launched a comprehensive online portal that provides easy access to information about their projects, including individual country-financing operations. He spoke about comprehensive debt solutions which will involve at least four elements: debt suspension, debt reduction, debt resolution, and debt transparency. He stated that without private creditors fully onboard, the Common Framework will not deliver a sustainable solution for Chad, Ethiopia, or Zambia. As countries work to recover, tackling climate change will be key for the region. The Bank is also working to address fragility, conflict, and violence. He concluded that while we know that the road to recovery will be long, countries in the region have applied lessons from previous crisis such as the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, and many countries have strengthened their social safety nets to help protect the poor that have been most affected by the crisis, and to move faster on key reforms and investments that will be crucial for long-term development.
Remarks at the Virtual Meeting on the Africa COVID-19 Vaccine Financing and Deployment Strategy

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-01-27) Malpass, David

World Bank Group President David Malpass provided an update on the World Bank Group’s vaccination efforts. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a heavy toll on the people of Africa in terms of lives lost and the severe economic impact that is hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. The Group is preparing emergency vaccine financing projects in twenty-one countries in Africa. He highlighted IFC work to mobilize financing for vaccine production and therapeutics focused on developing countries. In implementing the vaccines programs, the World Bank Group is working directly with governments, including finance for their purchases from vaccine manufacturers and via COVAX, and for deployment efforts working with partners such as WHO and UNICEF. He urged the leaders of African countries to move quickly to secure vaccinations for their populations, and to avail themselves of the financing available from the World Bank Group and other partners to help with this.
Remarks at the Second Investing in Africa Forum

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-09-07) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, discussed the partnership to promote development, investment, and multilateral cooperation in Africa. There are ample opportunities to accelerate growth, productivity, and Africa’s economic transformation. He pointed to four key things: first, close the large gap in infrastructure -- in roads, energy, water, sanitation, broadband, and transport; second, make agriculture more productive; third, improve the fundamentals needed to accelerate industrialization; and fourth, invest in people – in health and education – which is increasingly vital in the digital age. He believe the partnership will continue, and this relationship will help millions of people lift themselves out of poverty and realize opportunities for a better life.
Remarks on Universal Health Coverage in Africa

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-08-26) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, argues that investing in universal health coverage (UHC) is an investment in the future. He mentioned three: First, UHC confronts poverty head on by protecting people from major disease outbreaks and from catastrophic health expenses; Second, UHC accelerates inclusive growth; and Third, UHC stimulates the health sector and creates jobs. The Bank is working with partners to identify the best ways to scale up interventions to improve nutrition and early child development, and to eliminate childhood stunting. He welcomes the government of Japan’s decision to support the annual production of the World Bank and World Health Organization global monitoring report on universal health coverage, with a strong focus on Africa.
Remarks at Press Conference, Accra, Ghana, October 16, 2015

( 2015-10-16) Kim, Jim Yong

This is the transcript of the remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group at a press conference in Accra, Ghana. He discusses on the two goals, to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to boost shared prosperity to the bottom 40 percent in developing countries. He talks about improving the productivity of agriculture and making sure that every industry, every person in Africa has access to energy to end extreme poverty. He talks about the importance of investing in the health and education of people for future economic growth in developing countries. He commended Ghana on its structural transformation, shift out of a solely agricultural-focused economy and in one in which non-agricultural self-employment and, to a lesser degree, wage jobs have also become part of the economy. He concludes by talking about taking action on improved and fair, more just, more efficient tax systems and stopping illicit financial flows, in order to benefit the development of the country.
Financing for Gender Equality: Results and Good Practices

( 2015-07-14) Kim, Jim Yong

Remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. The Third International Conference on Financing for Development represents an important milestone in efforts to achieve universal and sustainable development as we move beyond 2015 and introduce a new set of Sustainable Development Goals. This event aims to mobilize high-level political support for financing gender equality and women’s empowerment, drawing on global good practices. He discusses the array of financing sources—private, public, domestic, and international—and policy changes needed to realize the vision of transformative gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Press Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, September 6, 2012

( 2012-09-06) Gordhan, Pravin ; Kim, Jim Yong ; Diop, Makhtar

Pravin Gordhan, South African Finance Minister, summarized the nature of the meetings held with ministers and deputies. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses that gender and equity is critical for sustainable economic development, as are good jobs for youth. He believes that along with the South African government, social inclusion and economic growth, especially in the private sector, are not mutually exclusive. The Bank is focused around this issue, and so the Bank needs to figure out a way to be the most effective organization in ending poverty and boosting prosperity. South Africa needed energy in order for the economy to grow and provide good jobs. The Bank is working with the government on many clean energy projects. Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa, joined Gordhan and Kim in answering questions. Issues included South Africa’s infrastructure program, inclusive growth, new directions at the Bank, energy options, the euro crisis, mining, pension plans and other social infrastructure, the Bank’s budget for Africa. Kim stated that Africa is one of his absolute top priorities.
China a Model Country

( 2005-10-14) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, noted that China has shown astonishing resolve in the last 25 years in fighting poverty, with remarkable progress to show for it. With similar resolve, China can successfully work with the Bank and with other partners to overcome the remaining development challenges it faces today: battling continued poverty, confronting environmental decline, and lowering barriers to global trade. He commented that the upcoming meeting of the G-20 presents a vital opportunity for China and the international community to redress the imbalances in the global economy, to create a more stable and equitable world for future generations. It is the first time that China is hosting this meeting of the G-20-and this is appropriate evidence of China's growing role as a major force in the global economy. The decisions at that meeting can make a difference for the world's poor--between a life of deprivation and suffering or a future with dignity and opportunity.