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WB names Chinese economist as vice president

World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick Monday announced the appointment of Justin Yifu Lin, a Chinese national, as the new chief economist and senior vice president for development economics at the World Bank. Lin, currently professor and founding director of the China Center for Economic Research at China\'s prestigious Peking University, was selected after a global search, according to a statement released by the bank. Expected to take up his position on May 31, Lin will succeed Francois...

WB announces two senior appointments

World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick announced on Thursday the appointment of Kristalina Georgieva as vice president and corporate secretary, and Hasan Tuluy as vice president for human resources. Georgieva, a Bulgarian national, will take up her position on March 10, 2008, and will head the corporate secretariat which serves as interlocutor between the World Bank Board of executive directors and bank management, according to a statement released by the World Bank. Georgieva,...

World Bank to open branch in Solomon Islands

The World Bank is looking to increase its presence in the South Pacific nation of Solomon Islands with the setting up of a new office in the capital Honiara, the Suva-based Pacnews reported on Monday. The World Bank\'s vice president for East Asia and the Pacific region, James Adams, said the bank has already met with the Solomons\' government to discuss its development plans. A country manager will be appointed to the Honiara office, which Adams said will be operational within several...

World Bank planning more China offices

The World Bank said it is \"exploring\" the possibility of establishing more offices in China to facilitate its local programs. \"We are seriously exploring it,\" David Dollar, the bank\'s country director for China, told China Daily. The bank\'s president Robert Zoellick visited China in mid-December and discussed the issue with Chongqing municipality head Bo Xilai. Bo suggested the bank send a special representative to Chongqing to facilitate cooperation if a branch was not immediately...

WB: Jordan, Kuwait top education reformers

The World Bank ranked Jordan and Kuwait as top educational reformers in the Arab world, according to a report released by the organization in Amman on Monday. The report, titled \"The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa,\" said Jordan and Kuwait are \"top performers\" in terms of access, efficiency and quality of education. Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories were ranked average in the study, while Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco...

WB:One-billion-dollars for Colombia education

The World Bank said on Tuesday it has approved 1 billion US dollars for Colombia\'s education. Axel van Trontsenburg, the World Bank\'s director for Colombia and Mexico, said that, from the loan, 300 million dollars will go to Colombia Credit and Technical Studies Agency and 600 million to low-income students. The bank is also willing to study medium-term plans for funding a metro project in the capital city of Bogota, the director said. On concerns over a looming global recession, the...

NOAA, World Bank to help manage water resources

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the World Bank signed an agreement on Thursday to work together to help developing nations manage water resources, combat drought, and measure changes in climate. Future projects are expected to take place initially in the Latin American region, notably in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, while other projects could be launched in other parts of the world, according to a joint statement released by the two agencies. This...

WB enhances contingency loans, extends maturities

The World Bank Group Tuesday unveiled a new loan facility for natural catastrophes, improved the terms of an existing contingency financing product and approved a 300 million dollars loan for Colombia under a new policy that significantly extends maturities. The announcements are part of a drive by President Robert B. Zoellick to improve the World Bank\'s efforts to overcome poverty in middle-income countries, said a statement released by the bank. \"These financial product enhancements...

World Bank seeks Chinas joint efforts in African development

The World Bank seeks to work together with China as strong partners in Africa to tackle key challenges standing on the way to Africa\'s sustained growth, said Obliageli \"Oby\" Ezekwesili, the Bank\'s Vice President for African Region. The principles underlying China\'s support are those of mutual benefit, and reciprocity. \"What is different, however, is the scale and focus of these investments,\" Ezekwesili said Wednesday while addressing at the Chinese Center for Economic Research of...

Talent outfow in Caribbean region serious problem

Talent outflow has become a serious problem facing small countries in the Caribbean region, Pablo Fanjzylber, an official from the World Bank said Wednesday. Fanjzylber made the remarks at the 10th international Gathering on Globalization and Development Problems in Havana. More than 80 percent of professionals have migrated from nations such as Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada and Guyana with the United States as the main target country, according to Fanjzylber. More than 30 percent of graduates...