In the same way that I greatly enjoyed hosting the EIB, the EIF, a deputy, and a finance minister, I am delighted this week to understand the role played by the World Bank in the digitalisation and modernisation of financial systems in emerging countries. Together with Andrea, we explore the example of instant payments and examine the role played by the World Bank in this implementation, particularly through the practical case of their deployment in the Western Balkans. This sheds light on this historic institution based in Washington, DC—a great way to understand the nature of their collaborations with both public and private sectors.

You will understand concretely how the World Bank assists developing economies worldwide in modernizing payment systems and the financial sector in general. By partnering with policymakers and the private sector, it develops a new playbook to drive impactful and resilient development. Modernizing the financial sector is just one aspect of it, as the World Bank has already been supporting more than 12,000 development projects, including infrastructure, schools, and roads.