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

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Speech at the Session on New Challenges and Solutions for the World’s Sustainable Development

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017-09-12) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group (WBG), spoke about how the global economy as a whole is in a period of strengthening growth, and this momentum in growth is driven by global manufacturing activity and trade, broadly stable financing conditions, and stabilized commodity prices. Escalating trade protectionism in major economies threatens to derail the rebound in global trade. He explained the severe consequences, especially for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) that rely on trade for growth and development. He insisted on the need to maximize financing for development by leveraging the private sector and optimizing the use of scarce public resources. He spoke about the development of the joint principles for crowding in private sector finance. Crowding in private finance should free up public funds to invest more in people. He concluded by saying that WBG can make the global market system work for everyone through sustainable development, including inclusive economic growth, investing in people, and building resilience to shocks and threats.
Billions to Trillions: Ideas to Actions

( 2015-07-13) Kim, Jim Yong

Remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, focus on moving from ideas to action for mobilizing trillions of dollars needed for development. He notes that with the end of the Millennium Development Goals and the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals comes an opportunity to make important changes in how we approach development. He suggests exploring ways to use our shareholder capital, innovative financing solutions, knowledge, and convening power to catalyze and crowd-in trillions of public and private sector dollars. The flexibility of the MDB model, which allows us to leverage these investments through the development of innovative solutions to global challenges. To go from billions in official assistance to trillions in investments, we will have to push even further our willingness to collaborate through creative partnerships.
Remarks at Plenary Session, Third International Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 13, 2015

( 2015-07-13) Kim, Jim Yong

Remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discuss building on Ethiopia’s legacy by presenting the world with a shared vision for substantially increasing funding for the world’s poor. He talks about the need to be bold, creative, form strong partnerships, and find new resources to meet our goals of reducing poverty in the world. He talks about how the funding we leverage means more children will be educated, more patients will be treated, and more vital services will be provided. He concludes that we are part of a growing global movement that is the first generation in humankind that can end extreme poverty.
Sending a Signal from Paris: Transforming the Economy to Achieve Zero Net Emissions

( 2014-12-08) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, focuses on economic policy as the key to mobilizing a coordinated global response to climate change. He talks about the need to confront climate change, without which there will be no hope of ending poverty or boosting shared prosperity. He adds that the longer the delay in tackling climate change, the higher the cost will be to do the right thing for our planet and our children. He affirms that from the Paris meeting we will make the rallying cry for effective management of local, national and global economies to fight climate change. The Paris agreement needs to speak as loudly of economic transformation as it does of pollution or carbon emissions targets. Carbon pricing that can raise revenues and can be used to generate more economic and social benefits. Specific efforts are needed to scale up renewable energy and develop carbon capture and sequestration technology, at a pace that will allow us to reach carbon neutrality by the end of the century. He concludes by saying that he will drive the World Bank Group and all its capabilities--financial, technical, and human--to support this development transition toward the goal of preserving our planet for all future generations.
Development Committee Closing Press Conference

( 2014-04-12) Belka, Marek ; Kim, Jim Yong ; Lagarde, Christine

Marek Belka, Chairman of the Development Committee, stated that there was a very broad, uniform support for the twin goals of the World Bank Group. He noted the resounding support for internal reforms at the World Bank Group. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about the change process and the success in developing and bringing together Global Practices and cross-cutting solution areas throughout the world. He noted the IDA replenishment and new financial arrangements that will allow increased lending in the next few years. He concludes by noting the need for a carbon price and the need to reduce fossil fuel subsidies, the importance of energy efficiency and improved performance standards, and and also long-term finance for renewable energy. Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, affirms that the IMF will continue to work on the issues of inequality, gender inclusion, growth, and the job market, and the fiscal aspect of climate change and how those matters of macroeconomic criticality can be addressed using fiscal tools. They fielded questions on IMF governance reform, the impact of technological change on employment, and the pace of the Global Infrastructure Facility.
Opening Press Conference at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, April 10, 2014

( 2014-04-10) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, notes that the developing countries will have to grow at a pace stronger than any time in the past 20 years to achieve the goal of ending the extreme poverty by 2030. He talks about the need for growth that is inclusive, creates jobs, and assists the poor directly. He calls for ensuring economic growth in the years ahead that is sustainable and takes us off the destructive path of climate change. He focuses on providing the best services possible in countries by keeping a strong presence in country offices and by providing global solutions to local problems. He is optimistic that countries and their partners will take it on, seize this opportunity and erase this stain of extreme poverty from our collective moral conscience once and for all. He fielded questions about China urbanization, Russo-Ukrainian tensions, Ghana’s dependence on the U.S. market, quality versus quantity of development aid, Middle East prospects, World Bank programs in Egypt, poverty in Paraguay, increased fees for advisory services, use of financial intermediaries, and climate change.
Speech at the Official Launch of the Green Climate Fund Secretariat, Songdo, Korea, December 4, 2013

( 2013-12-04) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, called this an extremely important day. Man-made climate change is real and is having a significant impact-- an increasing impact. We are convinced that there is no way that we will be able to end poverty by 2030, without tackling climate change in the most serious manner. He praised the Green Climate Fund as a source of enormous optimism and hope in the fight against climate change, and said the Fund was an "historic opportunity" to protect future generations.
A Dynamic Partnership in New Frontiers – Africa

( 2013-12-03) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, called the country "an exceptional example of an aid recipient turned donor" and urged business leaders to invest in Africa to help millions of Africans emerge from poverty, while also finding strong economic returns in new markets. It used to be that if you wanted to do something around development, the focus was on official development assistance, foreign aid. Korea is one of the countries that benefited tremendously from foreign assistance. The World Bank made many investments in the Republic of Korea and to a great extent some of the greatest successes were related to the relationship between the Republic of Korea and the World Bank Group. For countries to have the same experience that Korea has had--going from one of the poorest countries in the world to now being the 14th largest economy in the world--the private sector will have to play a critically important role.
Remarks at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., June 25, 2013

( 2013-06-25) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, talks about the goal to get the rates of poverty down below three percent by 2030. Economic growth is critical, especially in the private sector, in developing countries. He expresses the need for private sector investment and to do this in close cooperation with the Official Development Assistance that’s going into these countries. He discusses battling climate change, and the need for social movements in developing countries to make it happen. He then fielded questions on business myopia, results-oriented approach, corruption, and education.
Remarks at Thomson Reuters Newsmaker Event, London, U.K., June 19, 2013

( 2013-06-19) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses climate change as being a fundamental threat to economic development and the fight against poverty. He releases the new climate change report “Climate Extremes: Regional Impacts and the Case for Resilience” which talks about the challenges we’d be facing if the global temperature rose by two degrees Celsius. He talks about developing tools that help countries better assess and adapt to climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions tracking, helping countries become more energy-efficient, and advising them on building more climate-resilient infrastructure. He speaks about working with partners on building low-carbon climate-resilient cities, transforming the way to maximize productivity and resilience and doubling global renewable energy and efficiency. In conclusion, he says that the world needs to find innovative ways to set an appropriate price on carbon and roll back fossil fuel subsidies. He fielded questions on the U.N. climate policy process, corruption in lending to Africa, the role of China in slowing emissions, the role of bilateral agreements, getting youth involved, energy efficiency in the United States, and barriers to investment in low carbon industries.