Contacts: Dina El Naggar (202) 473-3245, cell: (571)426-1304
Delnaggar@worldbank.org Washington March 3, 2008 - World Bank Managing Director, Juan José Daboub applauded Bahrain for reforms aimed at creating jobs, improving the quality of life and strengthening social protections. “I am keen to listen to the views and perspectives from our partners in Bahrain on how the Bank Group can become more effective in leveraging this reform momentum to address the challenges of creating new jobs, diversifying economies and reducing poverty across the Arab world,” said Daboub. “This is my second visit to the region in the past year, and I am delighted to see how the World Bank Group has been able to share experiences with the Authorities to support an ambitious modernization and reform agenda that is flowing through to strong growth and real improvements in peoples’ lives,” added Daboub. Daboub’s visit to Bahrain is part of ongoing World Bank Group consultations on strengthening engagement with countries in the Arab World. The “Arab World Initiative” is one of 6 strategic themes announced by Robert Zoellick, World Bank President in October of 2007. The initiative aims at promoting a more effective role for the World Bank Group in responding to development priorities. The World Bank Group is currently undertaking extensive consultations in Arab countries to determine their priorities and explore opportunities for partnerships. Key areas identified by Arab leaders where the World Bank could potentially assist the region include encouraging greater integration with the global economy and supporting faster and more inclusive growth to provide jobs and opportunities, especially for young people. The Bank can also help the Arab World to address key challenges, including economic opportunities to help overcome conflict, generating jobs and employment, managing limited water resources, greater inclusion of women, and strengthening public accountability and service delivery. “We have learnt through our experience in other parts of the world that participation, transparency and effective communication are key to a successful development agenda,” said Daboub. “We look forward to supporting the efforts of our partners in government, private sector and civil society”. “A rapidly growing youth bulge and tough competition across global and regional markets present new challenges. This is an opportune time to forge stronger ties to address these key challenges through more effective resource management and implementation of employment growth and social protection programs,” said Daboub. Daboub was joined by Merza Hasan, World Bank Executive Director for Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen; Joseph Saba, World Bank Director and Marcos Ghattas, Manager for the Strategic Cooperation Program in MENA. For more information on the World Bank Group in the Middle East and North Africa Region, please visit: www.worldbank.org/mna |
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