The Nordic-Baltic Governors to the WBG met with President David Malpass in Helsinki on June 1st 2021. The meeting covered a wide range of issues, including climate change, Covid-19 measures and vaccine solidarity, and financing needs in low-income countries. Other topics were education, human capital, digitalization, debt sustainability, FCV, gender, human rights and non-discrimination.
In the meeting, Finland was represented by Annikka Saarikko, the Minister of finance, and Ville Skinnari, the Minister for development cooperation and foreign trade. Ministers or their deputies representing the other countries of the NBC attended the meeting via remote connection.
“I welcome the World Bank’s new Climate Change Action Plan. It is important that the World Bank help its member countries in maximizing the impact of climate finance. This work also supports the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, participated by over 60 countries, which I am co-chairing with the Minister of Finance of Indonesia,” Minister Saarikko said in a statement.
“In order to get back on track to sustainable development after the Covid-19 crisis, it is of vital importance that we increase funding directed to human development, health and high-quality education, especially in the poorest and most fragile countries. By contributing to matters that strengthen health and education systems, we promote equality, non-discrimination, stability and economic growth,” Minister Skinnari said.
While in Helsinki, President Malpass also a met with President Sauli Niinistö. President Malpass briefed President Niinistö on debt sustainability and the need for comprehensive and transparent debt solutions in many of the world’s poorest countries, while President Niinistö informed about his proposal for a 2025 Helsinki summit on security and cooperation. They also discussed the need for more climate action, the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 response and the importance of digitalization to facilitate rapid, safe, and secure delivery of income support. President Malpass noted that the World Bank scaled up its cash transfer programs to provide direct relief to the poor, vulnerable, and most marginalized groups, including women, the disabled, unemployed youth, and the elderly.
