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

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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the 52nd Washington Conference on the Americas

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-05-12) Malpass, David

These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the 52nd Washington Conference on the Americas. He discusses: the Bank forecast that Latin America and the Caribbean will grow by only 2.3 percent in 2022. Energy, food, and fertilizer prices are rising at a pace not seen in many years, hitting the region’s poor particularly hard. The commodity price boom will benefit natural resource exporters and government revenue. One key unfolding crisis is the rise of inflation in advanced economies. At the primary and secondary levels, the learning losses from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown policies need to be urgently addressed. As the leaders from the region gather for the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, it provides an opportunity to be strategic in addressing the challenges ahead.
After the Storm: Recovery and Resilience in the Caribbean

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2017-10-13) Kim, Jim Yong ; Mohammed, Amina ; Mitchell, Keith ; Bibeau, Marie-Claude ; Patel, Priti ; Green, Mark

At this high-level roundtable, Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, suggested three actions at the outset. First, in the wake of disasters like Irma and Maria we should channel resources quickly, flexibly, efficiently, and ensure that they reach those most adversely affected. Second, we need to make sure that we use all existing instruments and knowledge to help build resilience. Third, we need to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to compounded challenges of the Caribbean: high vulnerability, low growth, and high debt. This could include designing debt for resilience initiatives, mobilizing innovative risk financing tools to better manage fiscal risks related to disorders, and mobilizing private sector participation in working out solutions.
Opening Press Conference, World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, Lima, Peru, October 8, 2015

( 2015-10-08) Kim, Jim Yong

This is the transcript of the remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. He discusses on the period of slow growth, the end of the commodity super-cycle, pending interest-rate hikes, and the continued flight of capital out of emerging markets in the world. He talks about governments that must overcome a growing demographic divide to make future progress. He talks about the climate change and the need to cut emissions and invest in greater resilience . He speaks about developing countries that are going to get serious about increasing tax revenues, and stopping illicit flows of money. He mentions about the increase of capacity to support countries all over the world in building successful Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). He concludes by talking about Mexico and its very rapid development in the northern states and the need to apply that model for the development of southern states.
The Importance of Safety Nets: Mexico’s Leadership

( 2014-11-19) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group discusses the importance of safety nets and social protection that countries provide to their citizens. He announces supporting for Mexico’s second-generation safety net program PROSPERA, which provides a financial cushion to poor people, allowing them to achieve a higher level of health and security and giving them the chance to learn skills and to find good jobs to become more productive workers, to raise their income levels, and to promote economic growth. He talks about Mexico that played a crucial role in sharing lessons learned from its leadership in the sector and responding to presentations on the experiences of other countries that have faced similar challenges.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Getting Fit for the Next Big Challenge

( 2014-04-23) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses how to boost Latin America’s growth. The region needs to increase productivity, spur innovation, and adapt its productive structure to changing circumstances which must become a national priority for all countries, independent of their political cycles and ideologies. Improving logistics and infrastructure, education, and the contractual environment are critical to advance development in the region. World Bank Group is working with the Haitian Government and the private sector to introduce best practices in public-private partnerships and to create opportunities for the Haitian people who have been waiting so long for them. He concludes by saying that providing disadvantaged children access to a quality education raises their productive capacity and enhances social inclusion through higher employability leading to higher growth and improved quality of life.
Remarks for the Plenary Session of the Summit of Heads of State of the Central American Integration System

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2010-07-20) Zoellick, Robert B.

Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank Group, noted that the region could be more competitive if, working together, you removed bottlenecks to growth; modernized customs systems; facilitated trade; improved infrastructure, integrated your energy grid, and enhanced transport; strengthened the education and skills of your people; and created a better environment for private investment, small business and entrepreneurs. He spoke on the following topics: past and recent integration achievements; an agenda for integration; and the package of World Bank Group initiatives. He announced a two-year trade facilitation window, support for an INCAE training program for public administration, a technical assistance facility to support trade promotion, and a program to support judicial transparency.
The Clean Energy Challenge

( 2006-06-07) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, remarked that a key goal of the World Bank is supporting developing countries in meeting their energy demands, and helping poor people escape from poverty, and doing so with a smaller environmental footprint. It is important to build a strong partnership between rich countries and developing countries. He talked about Brazil producing ethanol on an enormous scale and with exceptional efficiency where ethanol prices have been steadily coming down in Brazilian industry, when global energy prices have been coming up. He noted the need to remove unnecessary trade obstacles that make bio fuels less competitive. He concluded by saying that the goal of World Bank’s new Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development is to provide advice, technical assistance, and investment programs to help the partner countries meet the energy challenges while protecting the natural environment.
Reaching for a Double Dividend

( 2005-12-20) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, shared his thoughts about how the global community can face the double challenge of protecting our environment and strengthening our economies. Brazil is working to turn this double challenge into a double dividend, by meeting energy needs that are essential for growth and fighting poverty, while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. Investing in the environment is investing in the future of the poor. To improve the lives of the poor and to create job opportunities for them, the developing countries need much more energy than they use today. The second and much greater challenge lies in slowing the threat of deforestation. The World Bank Group’s mission is to support economic development and policies that helps the poor. He concluded saying that we can and will continue to work with Brazil to raise global consciousness about our shared responsibility toward our environment.
Remarks at the Council of the Americas

( 1999-05-03) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, reassessed the global financial architecture and its impact on Latin America. Latin American countries, being small economies, are very vulnerable to world pressures. After a huge drop in private sector finance, we’re seeing the first signs of return. What we need now is greater transparency and supervision in banking and the private sector—and a better common set of principles and standards. We need decent government, trained government, with capacity at all levels. We need legal systems that work. We must ensure social safety nets are in place. The things that bring about equity in a society are education and knowledge. Latin America’s kids need stability and social justice.
Keynote Address on Preserving the Architecture of Historic Cities and Sacred Places

( 1999-05-03) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed the importance of preserving culture, cities and architecture, and sacred sites. The international system has to be built on structure, on governance, on justice, on legal systems, on social systems, but it also has to be built on history and culture. You do not have to have a dollar sign on something for it to be valuable or for it to be essential. You cannot have an international financial architecture built on sand. He discussed the overwhelming issue of poverty, concentration of people in cities, the pressure on public services and public spaces, and the degradation that accompanies movements of people into cities.