10. Speeches of World Bank Presidents [collection under construction]
376 items available
Permanent URI for this collection
Sub-collections of this Collection
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A. Speeches by David R. Malpass (2019 to present) -
B. Speeches by Jim Yong Kim (2012-19) -
C. Speeches by Robert B. Zoellick (2007-12) -
D. Speeches by Paul Wolfowitz (2005-07) -
E. Speeches by James D. Wolfensohn (1995-2005) -
F. Speeches by Lewis Preston (1991-95) -
G. Speeches by Barber Conable (1986-91) -
H. Speeches by Alden W. Clausen (1981-86) -
I. Speeches by Robert S. McNamara (1968-81) -
J. Speeches by George Woods (1963-68)
Items in this collection
1 - 10 of 172
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Publication
Opening Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass during the Launch of the January 2023 Global Economic Prospects Report
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2023-01-10)These remarks were delivered by the World Bank Group President David Malpass during the Launch of the January 2023 Global Economic Prospects Report on January 10, 2023. He addressed the following topics: global growth outlook; rising levels of debt distress and possible directions to achieve debt transparency and sustainability; the need for greatly expanded resources for developing countries, including deeply concessional resources; and attractive investment climate and governance standards. -
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Opening Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass during the Launch of the International Debt Report 2022
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-12-06)These opening remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass during the Launch of the International Debt Report 2022 on December 6, 2022. He spoke about the World Bank identified the stagflation risk early in that year which brings three risks: a global recession in 2023; a multi-year period of slow growth; and widespread asset repricing as higher interest rates are applied, and hedges run out. He mentioned that the interest rates were very low for a long period allowing a huge use of capital by fully-funded governments and business sectors, and this misallocation of global capital undercuts growth and productivity and will take time to repair. He spoke about energy prices that are a major factor, with shortages of fertilizer and food hitting people in the poorest countries particularly hard. He highlighted on the combination of extremely high government debt levels and rising interest rates will cause heavy absorption of global capital by advanced governments for a prolonged period. He said that the World Bank’s latest debt statistics report released that day makes it clear that a debt crisis in the world’s poorest countries is intensifying. He mentioned that to address the increase in debt and the new composition, he has focused on improvements in three areas - debt sustainability, transparency, and restructuring. He spoke on debt restructuring, where new mechanisms are needed to reflect the new creditor landscape. He concluded by saying that together with the Kristalina Georgieva from the IMF, they will engage with Chinese authorities and with their policy banks – the China ExIm Bank and the China Development Bank on the need for faster progress on resolving unsustainable debt and the need for more transparency. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting - Annual Meetings 2022: Sessions 2, 4 and 5
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-10-14)These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting – Annual Meetings 2022 on October 14, 2022. He spoke about the following: (i) International financial architecture; (ii) infrastructure investment; and (iii) sustainable finance. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the 2022 Annual Meetings Opening Press Conference
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-10-13)These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the 2022 Annual Meetings Opening Press Conference on October 13, 2022. The World Bank is the biggest funder of climate action. We are proposing at these meetings a new trust fund called SCALE that will allow the world and the global community to put funding into global public goods. That's the connection that needs to be set up within the global system to have an impact on greenhouse gas emission reduction. We're putting out the CCDRs, the Country Climate and Development Reports, at a rapid clip. China's came out yesterday; Vietnam's, earlier in September; and a host of others. We've done 10 countries and there will be another 20 by the time of COP27, which we're building up for. We were very pleased to have a major contribution from the U.S. to the Clean Technology Fund, which is one of the climate trust funds. To summarize, the world is facing a very challenging environment because of the advanced economies, and that has serious implications for developing countries. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at the Future of Digital Cooperation Event: Building Resilience Through Safe, Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-09-21)This report discusses the readout from World Bank Group President David Malpass’s meeting at the Future of Digital Cooperation Event: Building Resilience Through Safe, Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure. There have been severe reversals in development, and global policy trends suggest these will persist. Digital public infrastructure is a vital part of our response. Digital identification, payment, and data sharing platforms have made it possible for countries to respond more effectively, more transparently, at a greater speed and scale, and with more security and privacy. The World Bank Group is engaged across all these elements and our operations with significant digital components have been growing. Our portfolio stands at nearly 4.7 billion dollars. Through country engagements, we support our clients to boost mobile phone networks and remove regulatory barriers to foster access to finance. We are helping with the adoption of e-government platforms and the modernization of social protection systems. Our Global Findex database shows that 71 percent of adults in developing economies now have a formal financial account, often a bank account, compared to 42 percent a decade ago. It is critical to build on this trend. Expanding access to finance, reducing the cost of digital transactions, and channeling wage payments and social transfers through accounts will be critically important to mitigate the reversals in development from the ongoing turbulence. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on the Global Economy and Health Agenda
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-07-15)These opening remarks were made by World Bank Group President David Malpass to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on the Global Economy and Health Agenda on July 15, 2022. The report discusses about the COVID-19 pandemic and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have caused a humanitarian and economic catastrophe. Recessions are likely in many countries. This will put heavy new burdens on fiscal deficits and debt markets. Ukraine is severely affected. The World Bank Group has been using all our tools to mobilize emergency financing for Ukrainians. More than 6 billion dollars of this financing has already been disbursed. The danger for other developing countries is acute due to inflation, currency depreciation, rising debt service costs, and the collapse of international reserves. These problems are severely constraining future growth and deepening inequality and fragility. The diversion of natural gas to Europe presents grave obstacles to developing country production of electricity, food, and fertilizer. Priority areas identified to complement work by existing institutions include disease surveillance; laboratory systems; emergency communication, coordination, and management; critical health workforce capacities; and community engagement. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the Europe Institute at the University of Zurich
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-05-16)These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the Europe Institute at the University of Zurich. He discusses on: Churchill symposium; Ukraine, refugees, and fragility; energy realignment; inflation, debt, and growth; the challenge of global public goods; and Swiss partnership. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass at World Bank Group 2022 Spring Meetings Ministerial Roundtable for Support to Ukraine
(World Bank, World Bank, 2022-04-21)These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at World Bank Group 2022 Spring Meetings Ministerial Roundtable for Support to Ukraine on April 21, 2022. He said that he has been deeply horrified and shocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the atrocities committed against the civilian population, and the loss of life and livelihoods for millions of Ukrainians. He mentioned that since the invasion, the World Bank Group has provided fast-disbursing financial support to help the government provide critical services, pay wages for hospital workers, public servants, and the elderly. He insisted that It will be important for all partners to continue coordinating their support for Ukraine’s budget needs. He described that the World Bank Group is working toward three phases of the recovery effort of relief, recovery, and resilience. He said that as the war continues, the World Bank Group will work to build confidence in Ukraine’s financial, monetary, and fiscal institutions, fostering currency stability as they go forward. He mentioned that rebuilding will take hard work, determination, and struggle, but he remains optimistic. He concluded by saying that with our collective support, Ukraine can achieve a brighter future. -
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Spring Meetings Press Conference Opening Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-04-20)These opening remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass at Spring Meetings Press Conference on April 20, 2022. He said that we are facing COVID-19, inflation, and the war in Ukraine. He spoke about the World Bank Group has been acting fast in the face of the crises: first the Coronavirus (COVID-19) surge financing in over the last two years, which was one of the fastest and largest in our history; and now putting money into Ukraine and have moved quickly both to commitments and disbursements, including nearly 1.5 billion dollars that he announced in Poland last week. He mentioned that the World Bank Group is also working actively on climate, through its Climate Change Action Plan and the formation of Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs), which will identify the high priority items country by country, in their efforts to mitigate and to adapt to climate change. He was intrigued to see and welcomed India's moves the day before and that day to begin to sell from its stockpiles. He said that one of the solutions for the world is to recognize that markets are forward looking. He mentioned that the central banks can use tools that add to supply and that allow capital allocation to be improved. He concluded by saying that as interest rates rise, the debt pressures are mounting on developing countries, and we need to move urgently towards solutions. -
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Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at the 2022 Spring Meetings
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-04-20)These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at the 2022 Spring Meetings on April 20, 2022. He spoke about the following: (i) Global Economy and Risk; (ii) Global Health Issues; and (iii) International Financial Architecture.