New Delhi: Onno Rϋhl is the World Bank’s new country director for India, replacing N. Roberto Zagha.
Rϋhl, a Dutch national, was previously the director for pperations services and quality in the South Asia Region of the World Bank.
“I’m very pleased to announce Onno Rϋhl as the new Country Director for India. His strong experience on finance and operations, and his leadership skills, will ensure that the Bank’s strategy for India is formulated and implemented in order to support the development objectives of one of our most important clients in these challenging times,” said Isabel Guerrero, World Bank vice president for the South Asia region.
Rϋhl joined the Bank in 1993 as country officer for Moldova and Armenia. He has since held various positions within the Bank in East and Central Asia as well as Africa. He was the country director for Nigeria and prior to that the country manager for the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has also held the position of lead private and financial sector development specialist in the Africa and Europe and Central Asia regions. During that period, he provided leadership in creating and financing the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI).
Prior to working in the Bank, Rϋhl was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and was also the alternate director on the Board of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. He started his career teaching economics in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
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The World Bank's $23 billion portfolio in the country covers 76 active investment projects. During FY12, the Bank's board approved $3 billion in funding for 10 new projects for India, spanning a range of sectors including infrastructure, education, health and rural development. Of this, $445 million came from IBRD and $2.5 billion came as interest–free credits from IDA. India has borrowed $92 billion (IDA $44 billion and IBRD $48 billion) at current prices during its 60 years of relationship with the Bank.
