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

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Remarks at the Western and Central Africa Regional Media Roundtable

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-05-20) Malpass, David

World Bank Group President David Malpass spoke about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has taken a toll on African lives, economies, and livelihoods. The World Bank intends to invest and mobilize about $150 billion over the next five years in Africa to support the continent’s recovery from the pandemic and its long-term development. He urged countries that expect to have excess vaccine supplies to release their excess as soon as possible to developing countries that have delivery programs in place. He emphasized the need for greater transparency in contracts between governments, pharmaceutical companies, and organizations that are involved in vaccine production and delivery so that financing can be directed effectively, and countries can plan for receipt and deployment. The World Bank yesterday launched a comprehensive online portal that provides easy access to information about their projects, including individual country-financing operations. He spoke about comprehensive debt solutions which will involve at least four elements: debt suspension, debt reduction, debt resolution, and debt transparency. He stated that without private creditors fully onboard, the Common Framework will not deliver a sustainable solution for Chad, Ethiopia, or Zambia. As countries work to recover, tackling climate change will be key for the region. The Bank is also working to address fragility, conflict, and violence. He concluded that while we know that the road to recovery will be long, countries in the region have applied lessons from previous crisis such as the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, and many countries have strengthened their social safety nets to help protect the poor that have been most affected by the crisis, and to move faster on key reforms and investments that will be crucial for long-term development.
Remarks at the Second Investing in Africa Forum

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-09-07) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, discussed the partnership to promote development, investment, and multilateral cooperation in Africa. There are ample opportunities to accelerate growth, productivity, and Africa’s economic transformation. He pointed to four key things: first, close the large gap in infrastructure -- in roads, energy, water, sanitation, broadband, and transport; second, make agriculture more productive; third, improve the fundamentals needed to accelerate industrialization; and fourth, invest in people – in health and education – which is increasingly vital in the digital age. He believe the partnership will continue, and this relationship will help millions of people lift themselves out of poverty and realize opportunities for a better life.
Address at the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development Opening Session

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-08-27) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, noted that African countries face key policy challenges including adjusting to a new era of low commodity prices, increasing economic vulnerabilities and the challenge of finding new sources of growth. He feels better at leveraging funds from development partners, stopping illicit financial flows and helping countries mobilize more money domestically. African countries can dramatically increase the flow of private capital to fund infrastructure projects. The World Bank Group is working with African countries and development partners to implement the African Climate business plan which is a comprehensive program and investments totaling US$19.3 billion between 2016 and 2020. Ending stunting everywhere but especially here in Africa is an urgent mission. Universal health care is a critical element to achieve that. Kim called for massive investment, public and private, in infrastructure and universal health coverage for all of Africa.
Remarks on Universal Health Coverage in Africa

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-08-26) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, argues that investing in universal health coverage (UHC) is an investment in the future. He mentioned three: First, UHC confronts poverty head on by protecting people from major disease outbreaks and from catastrophic health expenses; Second, UHC accelerates inclusive growth; and Third, UHC stimulates the health sector and creates jobs. The Bank is working with partners to identify the best ways to scale up interventions to improve nutrition and early child development, and to eliminate childhood stunting. He welcomes the government of Japan’s decision to support the annual production of the World Bank and World Health Organization global monitoring report on universal health coverage, with a strong focus on Africa.
Commemorating End Poverty Day

( 2015-10-16) Kim, Jim Yong

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, discusses the goals of the World Bank Group, aligned to support the poor and the vulnerable, and to preserve our planet for future generations. He talks about the report "Poverty in a Rising Africa" that traces two decades of unprecedented economic growth on the continent with messages that are both encouraging and sobering. He speaks about how economic growth coupled with specific health and education interventions have contributed to improving people’s lives, and contributed in many countries, such as Ghana, to major reductions in poverty. He talks about the structural transformation, a shift out of agriculture that led to an increase in non-agricultural self-employment and, to a lesser degree, wage jobs in Ghana. He speaks about how improving the agricultural sector will be critical to further reduce extreme poverty in the country. He commends Ghana that has invested in its people, specifically in education in most parts of the country. He appreciated the country’s urban areas that have grown quickly, creating more and higher-paying jobs.
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 the African Union Summit, Addis Ababa

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-01-31) Zoellick, Robert B.

Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank, addressed the challenges and opportunities for World Bank Group cooperation with the African Union. He discussed the following topics: (i) Millennium Development Goals have become critical for social development in Africa; (ii) growth and opportunity for Sub-Saharan Africa; (iii) natural resource development; (iv) post-conflict countries and those in fragile situations; and (v) the danger of high energy and food prices.
Cities at the Front Lines of Development

( 2006-02-09) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, stated that the importance of cities is increasing on a daily basis. By 2030, China alone will add 342 million new urban residents, and India 271 million. Africa will add 395 million people and more than half (54 percent) of its population will be living in urban areas. Urbanization creates job opportunities and poverty challenges. Urbanization has place mayors on center stage to implement solutions to alleviate poverty at the local level. The World Bank established a dedicated urban unit more than 30 years ago, with estimated lending on urban issues in 2005 at $7 billion. The Bank looks forward to strengthening partnerships with local governments.
China a Model Country

( 2005-10-14) Wolfowitz, Paul

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, noted that China has shown astonishing resolve in the last 25 years in fighting poverty, with remarkable progress to show for it. With similar resolve, China can successfully work with the Bank and with other partners to overcome the remaining development challenges it faces today: battling continued poverty, confronting environmental decline, and lowering barriers to global trade. He commented that the upcoming meeting of the G-20 presents a vital opportunity for China and the international community to redress the imbalances in the global economy, to create a more stable and equitable world for future generations. It is the first time that China is hosting this meeting of the G-20-and this is appropriate evidence of China's growing role as a major force in the global economy. The decisions at that meeting can make a difference for the world's poor--between a life of deprivation and suffering or a future with dignity and opportunity.
Africa: Whatever You Thought, Think Again

( 2005-09-08) Wolfowitz, Paul ; Fay, Michael ; Leautier, Frannie ; Gomes, Paulo

Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, congratulated the editorial team of National Geographic for the special issue on Africa. National Geographic has played a unique role in broadening the knowledge of the world. The World Bank partnered with National Geographic to produce a full-color wall map to raise awareness of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and to highlight each country's progress. We often hear about an Africa that is ravaged by poverty, disease and conflict. There is another face to Africa, one of hope, ambition, energy, intelligence and achievement. That face is also captured compellingly in this issue. Africa’s future holds rich opportunities. To seize these opportunities, there are many challenges to overcome. Given the enormous scale of this challenge, we need to come to terms with what we can and cannot achieve with the MDGs. The World Bank is working with countries that request help to strengthen legislation and institutions so they can take charge of combating corruption. Africa's transformation will depend on the commitment of the international community and the resolve of Africa's people and leaders. Michael Fay, National Geographic Explorer in Residence, spoke of his travels in Africa and said that there is a very direct relationship in particular in the African continent, but indeed everywhere on earth, between the management of the natural resource base and poverty alleviation, the wellbeing of humanity. Frannie Leautier, of the World Bank Institute, said countries working together can reach solutions that are much better than when they work individually. She noted the need to balance between human life and other life forms, with the forests, animals and so on. Paulo Gomes, of the World Bank Board of Directors, said the issue was very rich in presenting the ecological dimension of the diversity of Africa. The Bank needs to do something in preparing a comprehensive strategy to rebrand Africa in a more positive light. Africa has a formidable reservoir of variety in fauna and flora that can be used for science and the good of the continent. The panel fielded questions on urban ecology, indigenous knowledge, resource management, and governance amid ethnic diversity.