WASHINGTON, March 19th, 2018 –The President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, will arrive in Montevideo on Wednesday, March 21st, on an official visit to Uruguay to demonstrate his commitment to the country’s equitable and sustainable development agenda, as well as to dialogue with Government authorities, legislators and private sector representatives, on the importance of investing in human capital as a determining factor for the future of the country. This is the first time ever that a President of the institution visits Uruguay.
Kim will meet President Tabaré Vázquez, who invited him to visit the country. They will talk about opportunities to invest more and better in people in order to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and to make sure that Uruguayans acquire the skills needed for jobs in the future.
“It’s an honor to be the first World Bank Group president to visit Uruguay,” Kim said. “Uruguay is a great example of success in reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and creating a large, strong middle class. We’re committed to continuing to work together to help Uruguay invest more in people, connect to markets, drive economic growth, and take the next step to become a more prosperous country.”
The visit will also include a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Danilo Astori, who, alongside other ministers and private sector representatives, will analyze the opportunities and challenges Uruguay faces to boost economic growth, international insertion and integration into global markets. In addition, President Kim will address Congress to raise the importance of investing in human capital as a development priority.
In the afternoon, President Kim will lead a public forum called “The Human Factor” where, together with renowned leaders, he will reflect on education, skills, technology and collaborative effort as part of the elements needed for the country´s economic development.
This visit represents an important milestone in the relationship of the World Bank Group with Uruguay, demonstrating the commitment, that dates back to more than 70 years ago, to continue working with the country in areas such as infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and education, as well as positioning Uruguay as a leader in innovative development areas such as green growth and inclusion, among others.
Biography of the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim: https://president.worldbankgroup.org/
Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Uruguay: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/uruguay
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