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

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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.
Speech at World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings Plenary, Washington, D.C., October 11, 2013

( 2013-10-11) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses the state of the global economy, and lessons drawn to the future of the World Bank Group. He mentioned strengthening Group financial discipline to become more efficient and to grow revenues. He promises that the World Bank Group will openly share our knowledge and experience with all 188 member countries, the private sector, and civil society. He wants to create a culture that retains the most motivated and talented people and attracts the best and brightest to the World Bank Group. He believes to chart a path toward universal financial access by bringing together multiple approaches and technologies. He promises to reduce transaction times by a third from conception of a project to first disbursement of funds. He concludes by saying that, working together with governments and development partners, have helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty.
Global Development at a Pivotal Time

( 2012-07-19) Kim, Jim Yong

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim discussed the priorities for the World Bank under his new leadership, including the immediate priority to help developing countries maintain growth and progress against poverty in these volatile economic times. The lesson of the last decade is that progress is possible for everyone. A great deal remains to be done. He sees four major challenges. The first is protecting development gains against global economic risks. The second is broadening development to countries that are being left out, especially so-called fragile and conflict states. The third is ensuring that growth is sustainable. The fourth is demanding that growth be inclusive. To broaden its partnerships, the Bank is creating a Global Partnership for Social Accountability. The Bank will hold itself accountable to the people it serves so that it is judged by results, not just intentions. Kim fielded questions on the role of government in development, civil society, social safety nets in crises, environmental and social sustainability, new instruments for problems in the global commons, clean energy projects, knowledge management, and the role of China.
On the 50th Anniversary of Ghana's Independence

( 2007-03-05) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, congratulated Ghana on its fiftieth anniversary that it has become one of the best performers economically in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is expected to meet the Millennium Development Goal to cut poverty in half. He spoke about World Bank partnership with the university to help create a facility that provides access to a wealth of development information for students, researchers, faculty, and the general public, and encourages all to take advantage of this new resource on the campus. Ghana faces challenges to boost the competitiveness of the private sector, an important engine for job creation. Ghana will need to invest heavily in infrastructure, and reform its energy sector, while ensuring sustained good governance. He concluded by saying that Ghana should inspire Africa by aiming higher, moving faster, taking bigger and bolder steps to achieve the future that the people of Ghana deserve.
Roundtable Discussion on Economic Development, Georgia State, GA, December 11, 2006

( 2006-12-11) Wolfowitz, Paul ; Young, Andrew

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, and Ambassador Andrew Young engaged in a roundtable discussion on economic development, moderated by Dean Bahl of Georgia State. Wolfowitz has made Africa the first priority of the Bank. There is really a chance for Africa to turn the corner. It’s going to have to start with the best performers, doing what the so-called Tigers did in East Asia, showing the way for other countries. Young said you can make more money honestly in a growing economy, than you can steal in a dying economy. Wolfowitz gave examples of the turnaround in Africa. Africa needs an environment where foreign investment support and local domestic investment is even more important.
Transparency in Extractive Industries

( 2006-10-16) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, discussed the fight against poverty during the last 20 years, during which East Asian countries have made progress, but Sub-Saharan African poverty has doubled. Oil revenues far exceed official development assistance. Yet for some countries it has been more of a curse than a blessing. Corruption and waste has led to distorted economies and demoralized societies in which government power has become an object of plunder leading to civil war and social chaos. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) aims to improve governance in resource-rich countries through disclosure and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas, and mining. It focuses on transparency, which is one important aspect of governance—but it is an important step towards transforming resources into real development impact, to real effect on the lives of the poor. He spoke about EITI process still facing many challenges ahead. If EITI is to succeed, it must engage every group that has a stake in the country’s future. EITI process requires governments to significantly increase their capacity while coping with other pressing demands. Making EITI succeed means going beyond just EITI in making revenues more transparent. We need to begin a vigorous effort in the area of helping countries recover stolen assets. For most countries EI revenues by themselves will not be enough by themselves to guarantee higher living standards for all citizens. We must do everything we can to help these countries transform their wealth into a brighter future for every citizen.
Foreign Aid: Challenges and Opportunities

( 2006-07-31) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, discussed Africa’s challenge to unleash the energy of the people, and give people the opportunity to improve their lives themselves. He talked about the challenge of corruption. He appreciated Africa for improving policies to make it easier for new businesses to take off and for businesses that are established to expand. Africans are taking a lead in helping their continent turn the corner, and donors are raising the bar for development assistance to try to ensure that every dollar is used to create a healthier, better-educated, more prosperous Africa. Governance is taken seriously, with performance-based aid strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
Trade: The Missing Link to Opportunity

( 2005-12-07) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, argued that the Doha Round presents an opportunity to rewrite the rules of an unfair trading system that holds back the potential of the poorest people. As important as aid is, as important as debt relief is, the opportunities generated by trade are far more significant. Unless the people of Africa and other poor countries have access to markets to sell their products, they will not escape poverty or be able to give their children a better future. He said, under the current rules, rich countries are allowed to keep barriers highest on the goods produced by poor countries. Wolfowitz emphasized that rich countries pay out a total of 280 billion dollars in subsidies to their farmers each year. But the real damage is done to farmers in poor countries who are denied markets to sell their goods. It is their children who go hungry, who are deprived of clean water, medicines, and the most basic necessities of life.
Challenges Facing the Bank in the 21st Century

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2000-03-14) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed the challenges facing the World Bank. The Bank is now working and trying to deal with the questions of poverty and equity. While poverty is rarely about the lack of one thing, but instead many, the bottom line is that poor constantly live with hunger. Poverty has important psychological dimensions such as powerlessness, noiselessness, dependency, shame, and humiliation. The poor lack access to basic infrastructure such as roads, transportation, clean water. The poor rarely speak of income but instead focus on managing assets and the environment, social and human.
Speech at the Multi-Sectoral Conference on Partnerships for Governance and Development

( 2000-02-26) Wolfensohn, James D.

James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, noted that we face a worldwide challenge as the population in developing countries grows. What sort of conditions are those people going to live in? Is there going to be equity? Social justice? Peace? The world has changed in the last 50 years, with the private sector and market-oriented economies prevalent, with a more dynamic civil society. In the Philippines, one in three live in poverty. Addressing this must be done in a cooperative way. The Comprehensive Development Framework brings together stakeholders. Social programs will only work if there is an effective structure involving these elements: the first element is strengthening governance; second element is a proper legal and judicial system; third element is the issue of financial supervision and control; fourth element is social system in place; and fifth element is the issue of corruption. The issue of implementation and the issue of transparent review and accountability are tremendously important.