Ajay Banga President of World Bank: Poverty, development, BRICS and India
Oct 11, 2023
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Ajay Banga, President of World Bank, discusses poverty eradication, funding sources, AI and technology in addressing global inequality, values in the public sector, growing up with a father in the army, personal risk-taking, and advice for young people.
The World Bank's main focus is on eradicating poverty while also addressing climate change, pandemics, fragility, refugees, and food insecurity.
The World Bank prioritizes collaboration, partnerships with other development banks, debt crisis resolution, and the significance of digital identification for financial inclusion and privacy.
Deep dives
Overview of the World Bank's Purpose and Structure
The World Bank was established in the late 1940s to aid in the reconstruction of Europe and Japan after World War II. Over time, its focus shifted to eliminating poverty and promoting prosperity in the emerging and developing world. The World Bank consists of two main components: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The IBRD provides financing and development expertise, while the IDA offers concessional financing and grants for the poorest countries.
Priorities of the World Bank: Poverty and a Livable Planet
The current President of the World Bank, Haji A. Banga, aims to align the bank's focus on eradicating poverty with the need to address climate change, pandemics, fragility, refugees, and food insecurity. These interconnected issues are part of the wider goal of creating a livable planet. The World Bank has established five verticals to guide their work: people, prosperity, planet, infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. The bank strives to promote gender equality, youth employment, and reduce carbon emissions as key results of their efforts.
Funding and Shareholding of the World Bank
The funding of the World Bank primarily comes from donor countries, which provide capital to the institution. The bank also raises additional funds through bond issuance, leveraging its AAA credit rating. Shareholding in the bank is represented by the executive board, consisting of 25 members representing different countries. The voting power and shareholding are adjusted periodically, and capital increases depend on agreement among the shareholders for a more equitable distribution.
Collaboration, Debt Crisis, and Digital ID
President Haji A. Banga emphasizes the importance of collaboration and working together to address global challenges. The World Bank seeks partnerships with other development banks, such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the African Development Bank, to pool resources and expertise. The bank also aims to resolve debt crises in highly indebted countries by promoting transparency and restructuring debt. Additionally, President Banga highlights the significance of digital identification, which can facilitate financial inclusion, provide access to services and resources, and promote dignity and privacy for citizens.
Ajay joins to shed light on pressing issues, innovative solutions, and the trajectory of our global economy. Is it possible to achieve a liveable planet free of poverty? Tune in! The production team on this episode were PLAN-B’s Nikolai Ovenberg and Niklas Figenschau Johansen. Background research was done by Sigurd Brekke.