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.
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.
Remarks at Opening Press Conference, World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, Washington, DC, April 16, 2015

( 2015-04-16) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses promoting strong economic growth in developing countries. He speaks about the need to invest in people, especially in education, health and to build social safety nets and protections against both natural disasters and pandemics to ensure that people don't remain trapped in extreme poverty. He talks about the challenges in trying to work in all kinds of complex political situations, so that whatever happens to be going on in the political sphere, we can continue to work to lift people out of poverty and boost shared prosperity. He talks about multilateralism that is always complicated and is always fraught with disagreements. He promises to continue to try to engage with governments to have that impact. He mentioned reports released about the Bank’s resettlement history. The transcript includes the Q&A session.
Ending Extreme Poverty by 2030: The Final Push

( 2015-04-07) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses the twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting prosperity among the poorest 40 percent in low and middle-income countries. The strategy is summed up in three words: grow, invest, and insure. He talks about the need to be creative and use all of the resources to leverage much-needed private sector investment to build infrastructure and create jobs. He promises that the World Bank Group will continue to support governments and make investments in a broad variety of areas in the fight against extreme poverty in developing countries. He talks about empowering women through education for mothers to have healthier children, and, when they have financial resources, they’re more likely to invest in the next generation. He talks about the most effective ways to encourage investment in the extreme poor and improve health and educational service delivery, is accountability. He concludes by saying that the governments must be more accountable to citizens, and work to reduce arbitrary treatment at the hands of security forces and the demand for bribes from poor people which will help to minimize the likelihood of violent conflict and eliminate a driver of poverty.
Remarks at the International Corruption Hunters Alliance Meeting, Washington, D.C., December 8, 2014

( 2014-12-08) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses two goals: to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the Population. These efforts require us fight against corruption in its many forms. He talks about the need to be alert, respond immediately when things go wrong, learn from the experience, and assure it doesn’t happen again. He cautions about the lack of governance, which is a necessary condition for corruption to thrive. The challenge is to get the knowledge and tools to the right people at the right time, and to fully leverage opportunities for reform. World Bank, with support from Australia, Denmark and Norway, created the International Corruption Hunters Alliance to engage in what is happening at a multilateral level, to provide access to the latest anti-corruption tools and information, and to create the dialogue that drives our collective effort to beat corruption. He concludes by saying that the intersection with corruption and dirty money are undeniable, and the implications for sustainable, inclusive development are clear.
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.
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.
Count on Us

( 2014-04-01) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses fundamental issues in global development and the World Bank Group's role in helping countries and the private sector meet the greatest challenges in development. He speaks about the twin goals, to end extreme poverty by 2030 and to boost shared prosperity. Due to television, everyone knows how everyone else lives. We must not remain voluntarily blind to the impact of economic choices on the poor and vulnerable. He added that we must ensure that our economic progress does not irreparably compromise our children’s future due to climate change. World Bank’s lending capacity – or the amount of loans we can carry on our balance sheet -- will increase by $100 billion dollars in the next decade, to roughly $300 billion dollars. He concludes by saying that all parts of our global society must unite to translate the vision of a more just, sustainable economy into the resolute action. That will be our legacy to the future. Dr. Kim fielded questions.
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.
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.