Phl hopes to deepen relations with World Bank under Kim's leadership

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hopes to deepen its relationship with the World Bank under the leadership of Jim Yong Kim, the new president, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said yesterday.

The Finance chief congratulated Kim, a candidate supported by both the United States and the Philippines.

 “We congratulate Dr. Jim Yong Kim for his election as the new president of World Bank. The Philippines assures Dr. Kim of its continued support to the multilateral agency under his leadership as the Bank moves to ensure that sustainable and inclusive growth is experienced across all nations,” Purisima said.

He said the Aquino administration is eager to work with Kim on various projects aimed at reducing poverty.

 “We are eager to work with Dr. Kim, a development expert and an anthropologist, on strengthening the Bank’s initiatives toward uplifting people’s lives – a mission that Dr. Kim has lived throughout his work in international development,” he said.

Purisima also said the Philippines and the World Bank can further deepen their partnership under Kim’s leadership by having more development-related projects.

 “The Philippines and the World Bank group have already achieved significant milestones in eradicating poverty, strengthening governance, and boosting economic growth,” Purisima said.

Kim, a Korean-American is the president of Dartmouth College.

Purisima earlier wrote to US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., supporting the candidacy of Kim.

Kim will replace World Bank president Robert Zoellick who is stepping down by June 30.

Other nominees to the top post were Former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Iweala backed out of the race at the last minute.

In supporting Kim, Purisima cited his track record of working with the World Health Organization (WHO) which Purisima said can be a “new focus” for the World Bank.

Kim served as a former director of WHO’s Department of HIV/AIDS who led a program to treat three million people infected by the virus in the developing countries from 2003 to 2007.

Purisima said Kim’s expertise in the area of health would be very important for the World Bank.

 “As we move toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, Kim’s expertise in anthropology and development will surely be an asset to the World Bank,” Purisima said.