Newly appointed World Bank President Ajay Banga met US Vice President Kamala Harris and discussed developing and implementing an action plan to raise ambition in mobilizing private sector investments. This was the first US interaction with the World Bank after Banga took office on Friday.
The White House said at Monday’s meeting, the vice president highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s “strong support” of the World Bank’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and inspire and invest in poverty-reducing policy reforms.
They praised the steps taken to strengthen the World Bank, including expanding its mission to bring resilience to global challenges such as climate change, pandemics and conflict, the White House said. According to the statement, he said that addressing these global challenges is linked to and not separate from the Bank’s work to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The Vice President welcomed the new World Bank President, Banga’s commitment and ambition in taking forward this development initiative.
Harris conveyed America’s intention to work with World Bank shareholders and Banga in the lead-up to the G20 leaders’ summit in September. The White House said that the Vice President recognized that the public sector alone could not meet the needs of enormous growth. They also stressed the United States’ commitment to developing and implementing an action plan to increase the ambition to mobilize private sector investment.
