Shaping the Global Development Agenda: A Conversation between Jim Kim and Chief Economist Paul Romer

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 
Time: 11:00 am - 12 pm
Location: Preston Auditorium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

Join a one-on-one conversation with WBG President Jim Kim and the Bank’s new Chief Economist Paul Romer. They will discuss challenges in global development and the links between economic growth, poverty, and inequality. The President and Chief Economist will also describe the value of research and data in devising smart, effective development policy and programs. This session will provide insights into current global challenges and the WBG’s role in tackling them.

Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s Bet: Getting Back to Growth Through Trade

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: J-1-050, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

Since the commodities boom faded five years ago, Latin America and the Caribbean countries have been searching for a new path that will bring back the growth enjoyed during the first decade of the century.

This raises a number of key questions. How can growth be reactivated? How can the most vulnerable be protected? How can governments make important investments in infrastructure and productivity in the face of global economic slowdown?

Our experts will address these issues and respond to your questions.

On Wednesday, October 5, World Bank Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean, Augusto de la Torre, will share the region’s 2017 economic outlook and discuss how each country is facing these challenges. He will also examine the potential for boosting growth through trade.

There are three key aspects of the economic situation which will guide the discussion:

1. Growth in the region has slowed down in the last five years. There are some bright spots like Panama and Peru, which are expected to grow 5.9% and 3.4% this year, respectively. However, there are less positive signs across the region, which is forecast to see average economic growth contract 1.3% in 2016. This is hitting populations in their pocketbooks and being felt by governments. But there are a number of countries taking positive steps to address the shift from economic bonanza to headwinds.

2. The debate over economic policies - and especially the demands of the population – is focused on figuring out how to get back to the growth the region enjoyed during the first decade of the 2000s. There is also the question of how to ensure stable, long-term growth that will be resilient in the face of external shocks. Some of the issues on the table include boosting productivity, investing in human capital and the role of the private sector.

3. Our experts will discuss the potential for foreign trade diversification to fuel economic recovery. This will be examined in the context of weak global demand and adjustments to exchange and interest rates.

From Billions to Trillions: Combining Commercial Capital with Development Needs

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Preston Auditorium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

The first in a series of four sessions that provides a multi-faceted view of the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing private finance for development. Urgent action is needed to mobilize, redirect and unlock trillions of dollars of private resources to ensure global growth and shared prosperity. IFC’s 60 years of experience has demonstrated the private sector’s ability to create innovative, commercially viable solutions that deliver development impact. What platforms are most efficient to mobilize third party capital for development? What are the most attractive opportunities for investors? Join a thought-provoking conversation on innovative ways to convert billions to trillions.

Moderator: Nozipho Mbanjwa, Anchor, CNBC Africa 
Opening Remarks: Gavin Wilson, CEO, IFC Asset Management Company
Closing Remarks: Jingdong Hua, Vice President and Treasurer, IFC

Making Infrastructure Rewarding

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location: Preston Auditorium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

The need for sustainable and resilient infrastructure is enormous. Some 1.2 billion people in the world don't have access to electricity; At least 663 million people lack access to safe drinking water. About one billion people in low-income countries lack access to an all-weather road – cutting them off from basic health, education, trade, and employment opportunities: more than 4 billion people (60% of the global population, most in developing countries) do not have access to the internet – this is a significant opportunity gap for those without it. Much work is needed to make projects "investor ready" and to develop innovative frameworks to leverage private investment in order to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed to close the infrastructure gap.

This event is hosted by the Global Infrastructure Facility, a partnership among governments, multilateral development banks, private sector investors and financiers designed to provide a new way to collaborate on preparing, structuring and implementing complex projects. The seminar will feature high-level panelists who will provide their unique perspectives on the major challenges to and opportunities for developing a global pipeline of bankable infrastructure projects in emerging markets and developing economies by leveraging private capital.

Join us on October 5th at 4pm EST by registering here, and engage with us on twitter #InvestinInfra.

We also invite you to register for the other sessions in this series on mobilizing private financing:

This session is part of a series of four sessions developed to provide a multi-faceted view of the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing private finance. The series begins on October 5 with From Billions to Trillions: Combining Commercial Capital with Development Needs, which examines the role of the private sector as a powerful source of innovation and resources for jobs and growth in developing countries. It follows with a second session, Making Infrastructure Rewarding, which focuses on infrastructure investment in emerging markets and developing economies and explores the Global Infrastructure Facility’s efforts to mobilize private finance for infrastructure by developing better-structured, more bankable infrastructure projects. The series continues with a third session on October 6, From Risk to Reward: Accelerating Business Engagement Globally in Pursuit of the SDGs that will explore judgements about risk and reward that drive private investment flows. It culminates on October 7 with Catalyzing Private Finance for Development which brings together senior development thought leaders, policy makers, private sector executives, and civil society to consider the transformational actions needed to successfully catalyze private finance, support healthy and transparent markets, and build resilient societies.

How Can South Asia's Firms Better Compete?

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016 
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location: MC13-301, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

Launch of the World Bank Group’s South Asia Competitiveness report:
South Asia’s Turn: Policies to Boost Competitiveness and Create the Next Export Powerhouse

South Asia is hot on the heels of East Asia to become the world’s next middle-income region. But to catch its neighbors, South Asia and its firms – especially in industries such as light manufacturing, auto and agribusiness - will need to compete on a global scale. This event highlights South Asian countries with great potential for improving the region's competitiveness. Global thought leaders, business leaders and policy makers will share best practices from the region and discuss challenges unique to South Asian businesses.

The Governance Gap: Why Does Half the World Distrust Government and What Can We Do About It?

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016 
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: JDW Atrium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer shows that more than half of the global population expresses distrust in government institutions. A World Bank survey with opinion leaders in client countries show that bridging governance gap has risen to the top of countries’ policy priorities! Join cutting-edge thinkers in this field to unpack the notion of “effective governance” and to clarify some of the drivers necessary to improve governance and meet the development challenges of the 21 century. Share your thoughts and questions on social media using #goodgov.

Human Capital Summit: Investing in the Early Years for Growth and Productivity

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016 
Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Preston Auditorium, World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC

Investing in the early years is one of the smartest investments a country can make to break the cycle of poverty, address inequality, and boost productivity later in life. Today, millions of young children are not reaching their full potential because of inadequate nutrition, lack of early stimulation and learning, and exposure to stress. Investments in the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of children -- from before birth until they enter primary school – are critical for the future productivity of individuals and for the economic competitiveness of nations. Join us as country leaders share their commitments to reduce chronic malnutrition in children and expand access to early childhood development services by 2020.

Financial Inclusion not Exclusion: Managing De-Risking

Date: Friday, October 7, 2016 
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Preston Auditorium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

Financial inclusion has emerged as a critical development challenge.

Fintech innovation and successes from emerging countries and the private sector show tangible progress toward Universal Financial Access 2020.

But de-risking, where global financial institutions are restricting relationships with remittance companies and certain local banks because of perceived anti-money laundering risks, is undermining these efforts.

Join us LIVE to hear about emerging countries’ innovative approaches toward financial inclusion and learn how countries can manage de-risking.

Toward A More Integrated East Asia: Economic Corridors & Infrastructure Connectivity

Date: Friday, October 7, 2016 
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pme
Location: JB-1-080, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

Economic growth in East Asia has been largely rooted in the expansion of exports and foreign direct investment. But future sustainable and inclusive growth will benefit from greater regional integration, through economic corridors and enhanced infrastructure connectivity. Hear directly from policymakers – and from other financiers of trade and integration programs like the World Bank – how connectivity can improve the flow of goods, people, data and capital across East Asia. 

Catalyzing Private Finance for Development

Date: Friday, October 7, 2016 
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Location: JDW Atrium, WBG Headquarters, Washington DC

The culmination of a series of four sessions that provides a multi-faceted view of the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing private finance for development. This flagship event focuses on mobilizing and re-orienting private finance to the SDGs, one of the prominent challenges of our time. It will bring together policy makers, private sector executives, civil society representatives and development practitioners to take stock of existing mobilization efforts, discuss implementation challenges, and the transformative actions needed to overcome these. Key questions to be addressed include:

·   How can public-private alliances support healthy, transparent markets and resilient societies?

·   Which financial innovations can best support long-term sustainable investments?

·   Which policies and instruments are needed to crowd-in private finance?

·   What examples exist and how can they be mainstreamed and scaled up?

·   Why is this a good time for private investors and what are the opportunities?

Featured

		Jim Yong Kim  President, World Bank Group
		Kaifala Marah Governor, Central Bank of Sierra Leone
		Joaquim Levy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, World Bank Group
		Therry Déau Founding Partner, Chief Executive Officer, Meridiam Infrastructure
		Amy Jadesimi Managing Director, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base
		Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development
		José Carlos Ugaz  Chair of the Board, Transparency International
		Philippe H. Le Houérou  Executive Vice President and CEO, International Finance Corporation
		Jane Nelson Director of the Corporate Responsibility Initiative at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University