Languages:
Italian, English

Daniela Gressani has been the Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region since September 2006. 

Ms. Gressani coordinates the activities of more than 380 staff working in the Region, 35% of which are in the country offices.  She oversees a portfolio of 118 projects with currently over $ 6.0 billion in loans, grants and credits committed. The World Bank Group serves 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region, home to more than 300 million people speaking Arabic, Persian, and a variety of indigenous languages. MENA is a diverse region, mainly composed of High and Middle Income Countries -- it counts only two IDA countries (Djibouti and Yemen) – but it is also saddled with conflicts and instability making it one of the most volatile regions in the world. Ms. Gressani guides the Bank strategy for the region, providing lending and knowledge services to Low and Middle Income countries, a unique program of fee-based technical cooperation to High Income countries, and rapid response reconstruction and reform programs for conflict areas coupled with longer term institutional social and economic development assistance.

Recently the MENA Region has experienced exceptional economic growth, buoyed by record high oil prices.  Over the last three years, economic growth in the region has averaged 6.1 percent a year, the strongest growth in the region in nearly three decades.  This is up from an average annual growth of 3.7 over the 1990s.

Ms. Gressani has been in the World Bank since 1988, serving in a number of senior positions, including Country Director for Central Europe and the Baltic States (2005-2006); Interim Director at the Office of the President (2005); Director for Strategy and Operations, Latin America & Caribbean Region(2003-2004); Sector Manager for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, Europe and Central Asia (1999-2003) and Middle East and North Africa (1997-1999); as well as various assignments as economist (1988-1997).  Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. Gressani served as an economist in the Research Department of the Central Bank of Italy. 

Ms. Gressani, an Italian national, holds a M.Sc. degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1981).

To reach this expert, please contact the World Bank's Media Division.

Updated September 17, 2008