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    Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the 52nd Washington Conference on the Americas
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-05-12) Malpass, David
    These remarks were delivered by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the 52nd Washington Conference on the Americas. He discusses: the Bank forecast that Latin America and the Caribbean will grow by only 2.3 percent in 2022. Energy, food, and fertilizer prices are rising at a pace not seen in many years, hitting the region’s poor particularly hard. The commodity price boom will benefit natural resource exporters and government revenue. One key unfolding crisis is the rise of inflation in advanced economies. At the primary and secondary levels, the learning losses from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown policies need to be urgently addressed. As the leaders from the region gather for the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, it provides an opportunity to be strategic in addressing the challenges ahead.
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    Opening Press Conference, World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, Lima, Peru, October 8, 2015
    ( 2015-10-08) Kim, Jim Yong
    This is the transcript of the remarks delivered by Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. He discusses on the period of slow growth, the end of the commodity super-cycle, pending interest-rate hikes, and the continued flight of capital out of emerging markets in the world. He talks about governments that must overcome a growing demographic divide to make future progress. He talks about the climate change and the need to cut emissions and invest in greater resilience . He speaks about developing countries that are going to get serious about increasing tax revenues, and stopping illicit flows of money. He mentions about the increase of capacity to support countries all over the world in building successful Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). He concludes by talking about Mexico and its very rapid development in the northern states and the need to apply that model for the development of southern states.
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    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.
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    Latin America and the Caribbean: Getting Fit for the Next Big Challenge
    ( 2014-04-23) Kim, Jim Yong
    Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, discusses how to boost Latin America’s growth. The region needs to increase productivity, spur innovation, and adapt its productive structure to changing circumstances which must become a national priority for all countries, independent of their political cycles and ideologies. Improving logistics and infrastructure, education, and the contractual environment are critical to advance development in the region. World Bank Group is working with the Haitian Government and the private sector to introduce best practices in public-private partnerships and to create opportunities for the Haitian people who have been waiting so long for them. He concludes by saying that providing disadvantaged children access to a quality education raises their productive capacity and enhances social inclusion through higher employability leading to higher growth and improved quality of life.
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    Remarks for the Plenary Session of the Summit of Heads of State of the Central American Integration System
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2010-07-20) Zoellick, Robert B.
    Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank Group, noted that the region could be more competitive if, working together, you removed bottlenecks to growth; modernized customs systems; facilitated trade; improved infrastructure, integrated your energy grid, and enhanced transport; strengthened the education and skills of your people; and created a better environment for private investment, small business and entrepreneurs. He spoke on the following topics: past and recent integration achievements; an agenda for integration; and the package of World Bank Group initiatives. He announced a two-year trade facilitation window, support for an INCAE training program for public administration, a technical assistance facility to support trade promotion, and a program to support judicial transparency.
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    The Santiago Consensus: From Vision to Reality
    ( 1998-04-19) Wolfensohn, James D.
    James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank Group, discussed a new consensus on economic and social policy in this hemisphere that has been taking shape. This new consensus is one based on recognition of the paramount importance of what I called a few months ago in Hong Kong "The Challenge of Inclusion" — the challenge of ensuring that economic progress can become a reality in the lives of all the people of this region, especially the tens of millions who until now been very largely left behind. Chile has made commitments to a new model of Open Regionalism. The consensus goes beyond economics and finance, into the social dimension of development. It is time to retire once and for all that tired old phrase of the so-called Washington Consensus. In addition to financial resources, the Bank is determined to harness the incredible power of new information technologies, and a new spirit of openness and partnership, to make knowledge of global best-practice in development accessible to all. We are already engaged in building the internal architecture of a "Knowledge Bank." The Bank of the future will be committed to pulling its weight in translating the Santiago Consensus into reality at both the national and the regional level.
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    Address to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Santiago, Chile, April 14, 1972
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 1972-04-14) McNamara, Robert S.
    Robert S. McNamara, President of the World Bank Group, believes that the state of development in most of the developing world today is unacceptable. It is unacceptable, but not because there has not been progress. There has been the total economic growth, measured in Gross National product (GNP) terms, for the developing countries during the first development decade was impressive. For some of these countries it was the most successful decade measured in these gross economic terms in their history. Finally, if the state of development today is unacceptable, we must not waste time looking for villains. Rather, the entire international development community must promptly move forward with practical measures which are conceptually sound, financially feasible, and which can command the requisite public support. He spoke about income distribution, official development assistance efforts, debt problems, trade expansion, and the World Bank’s Five-Year Program.
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    Address to the Inter-American Press Association, Buenos, Aires, October 18, 1968
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 1968-10-18) McNamara, Robert S.
    Robert S. McNamara, on his first visit to Latin America as President of the World Bank Group, spoke about his concerns about Latin American economies and hopes for increased lending in education and agriculture. He is concerned about the U.S. Congress approving the IDA replenishment. He asked for resolve to achieve: more equitable distribution of the benefits of increased productivity; balanced growth; export diversification; and strengthened regional cooperation. He stated that unrestrained population growth cripples economic growth. He highlighted the necessity for stabilizing the rate of population growth.