May 1, 2012 - Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has made impressive policy strides and built a record of strong macroeconomic management, strengthened public financial management, and shifted resources towards social services and critical infrastructure to improve the lives of its population.
Philippe Le Houérou, World Bank Vice-President for the Europe and Central Asia Region, and Ana Revenga, World Bank Sector Director for Human Development in the Europe and Central Asia region speak to the media during the 2012 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings.
The report documents the impressive achievements of the European growth model over the last 50 years. Accounting for the stresses it is experiencing and assessing the longer-term challenges that Europe will face
Irrigation is slowly changing the landscape of Armenian agriculture and improving the lives of Armenian farmers. This transformation is taking place due to investments, supported by the World Bank, over many years in the country's irrigation and water rights systems.
Opportunities for Men and Women: Emerging Europe and Central Asia The countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia have a long history of striving for gender equality...
Skills, Not Just Diplomas Why do firms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries increasingly complain that they cannot find graduates with the right skills?
Social Safety Nets in Europe and Central Asia: Preparing for Crisis, Adapting to Demographic Change, and Promoting Employability Social safety nets in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region responded...
Georgia has had quite difficult years from an economic point of view. In the past years, however, there was very important support from The World Bank, especially this IDA program, that have changed Georgian economy. Right now we are on the rise, right now economy is recovering and one of the main reasons for this recovery can be said to be IDA. It is the projects that we need to develop in future for this growth to be sustainable for long term sustainability. We definitely need IDA.
Nika Gilauri Prime Minister of Georgia, October 2010
I would like to emphasize our appreciation for the close partnership Moldova has enjoyed in past two decades with the World Bank and the International Development Association. We call on donor countries to generously support IDA in its current round of replenishment, so that IDA can continue to be a strong partner for developing countries like Moldova in their efforts to achieve the MDGs.
Victor Bodiu Moldovan Minister of State. MDG Summit, New York, September 2010
To meet our development goals we need to step up our public investment effort now, despite the impact of the crisis - with the prudence that has always been the cornerstone of our fiscal policy. The World Bank's regular financing window (IBRD) provides to Armenia a unique opportunity to meet this challenge.
Tigran Sargsyan Prime Minister of Armenia
Cooperation with the World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) is of exceptional importance and we value the Bank's support from the very beginning of this cooperation and the very first approved project - the Emergency Reconstruction Project, as it duly recognized the specific need of the Republic of Croatia and adapted its instruments accordingly.
Ivan Šuker Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Croatia
The World Bank Group has always been outstanding with its efficient and demand-oriented approach. The substantial WBG resources have been allocated for physical and social infrastructure projects, as well as providing significant financial assistance for mitigating the short-term impact of the crisis. It makes the WBG one of our most reliable and long-standing partners.
Nika Gilauri Prime Minister of Georgia
In the past two years Kazakhstan, like many other countries, has significantly expanded cooperation with the World Bank. Going forward, we intend to continue drawing on the Bank's analytical and financial resources to support our reform program and facilitate recovery from the crisis. Therefore, to accommodate our growing demand for Bank financing, the Republic of Kazakhstan expresses its support for the current initiative to increase the capital of the World Bank.
Karim Massimov Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The World Bank proved to be a loyal and dedicated partner over the past 17 years, and made an exceptional contribution to the country's transition and development by providing strong financial and advisory support. In order for the World Bank to continue playing such an important role in my own country and the whole region, it is crucially important that an appropriate capital increase is secured.
Zoran Stavreski Deputy Prime Minister
This year, the Bank will set a record for investment in developing countries. To sustain its vital role, it is working with its shareholders to strengthen its capital base. A well-capitalized World Bank leverages all its shareholders' investments by pooling them and then raising five times the capital by borrowing in financial markets. It then uses these funds in cooperation with aid partners, old and new, public and private.
A joint statement by Alexi Kudrin is Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Finance of Russia; Robert Zoellick is President of the World Bank.
After a rainfall of trillions for domestic financial institutions, the world balks at solidly capitalizing the World Bank and the IBRD, even when their mandate fits circumstances perfectly.
Georgia has had quite difficult years from an economic point of view. In the past years, however, there was very important support from The World Bank, especially this IDA program, that have changed Georgian economy. Right now we are on the rise, right now economy is recovering and one of the main reasons for this recovery can be said to be IDA. It is the projects that we need to develop in future for this growth to be sustainable for long term sustainability. We definitely need IDA.
