PHL eyes stronger ties with WB under Kim

The Philippines intends to develop a stronger relationship with the World Bank (WB) under Jim Yong Kim, the lender’s new president, whose bid for the position was supported by Manila and Washington, the Department of Finance said Wednesday.   “The Philippines and the World Bank group have already achieved significant milestones in eradicating poverty, strengthening governance, and boosting economic growth," said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.   “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 noted the Philippines and the World Bank could deepen their partnership under Kim's leadership by having more development-related projects.   “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.   The Aquino administration is eager to work with Kim on projects aimed at reducing poverty.   The president of Dartmouth College who was nominated by US President Barack Obama to the WB presidency, the Korean-American Kim will replace World Bank president Robert Zoellick who is stepping down by June 30. Other nominees to the WB post were former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala–who backed out of the race at the last minute.   Purisima cited Kim’s track record with the World Health Organization, where he headed a program to treat three million people infected by HIV/AIDS virus in developing countries from 2003 to 2007. This can be a “new focus” for the WB, the Philippine official said.   “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 added.  —VS, GMA News