OREANDA-NEWS. February 14, 2013. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will visit Russia. It is going to be his first official visit to Russia and to the Europe and Central Asia region since becoming World Bank Group President in July 2012, reported the press-centre of World Bank.    

The World Bank Group and the Russian Federation have enjoyed a 20-year partnership, with knowledge-sharing becoming an increasingly important focus of the relationship. Russia and the World Bank Group have built a unique cooperation at the three levels of engagement: national, regional - cooperation with the CIS, and global - Russia’s growing role as an emerging global donor.

Kim will convey the World Bank Group’s continuing support for the country’s development objectives and will reinforce its commitment to support Russia’s efforts to reducing poverty and building shared prosperity. He will also explore innovative approaches to deepening the World Bank Group’s engagement with Russia’s regions by trying to reach out to the poorer regions of the country.

“I look forward to discussions with Russia’s leaders on ways that they and the people of Russia can add positive contributions to the global economy and development,” said Kim. “Russia has many lessons for the world – not just from the city centers but from the regions as well. Having spent so much time in Tomsk, working on one of Russia’s own development challenges, I have great respect for the ability of Russia to generate cutting-edge knowledge and help change the world.”

Kim was referring to his prior work through a non-profit group, Partners in Health, in helping fight cases of multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis in the Tomsk region.

During his visit, Kim will meet with top Russian officials and key ministers of the government, regional governors, representatives of private sector, think-tanks, academia, civil society representatives, and media to discuss the World Bank program based on the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS). The CPS supports Russia’s efforts to increase growth, modernization, and diversification; expand human potential; deepen its global and regional role as a provider of assistance to less developed countries and of global public goods; and to improve governance and transparency. 

The Bank Group President will also deliver a public lecture “What’s Next for Russia’s Economic Future and Global Role” in the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA).

On February 15-16, Kim will participate in the G20 finance ministers and central governors meeting, which Russia hosts as the G20 Chairman this year.

Kim will be accompanied by the World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Philippe Le Houerou, and the International Finance Corporation Vice President for Europe, Middle East and North Africa Dimitris Tsitsiragos.