New World Bank Vice President for East Asia & Pacific Region

Axel van Trotsenburg appointed new World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Region

Washington, 31 January 2013 - Axel van Trotsenburg has been appointed the World Bank’s new Vice President for East Asia and Pacific by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, effective February 1st. Mr. van Trotsenburg will lead the Bank’s advisory services and lending operations in a dynamic region which now accounts for 40 percent of global growth.

“I am excited to join the team serving East Asia and the Pacific, a region leading the global economy in growth and poverty reduction, with an increasing need for innovation and knowledge,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific. “We will continue working closely with countries in the region to help deliver practical development solutions and create opportunities for all.”

Mr. van Trotsenburg brings extensive global development experience to the position, having worked to improve the lives of the poor in countries at all stages of development – from the poorest to the middle income, as well as the fragile and conflict affected.

Most recently, as Vice President for Concessional Finance and Global Partnerships, he led negotiations for the last replenishment of resources for the International Development Association (IDA), the Bank’s fund for the poorest, which raised a record $49.3 billion for the world’s poor countries over the three-year period ending June 30, 2014.

Previously, in the Latin America and Caribbean region, Mr. van Trotsenburg served as Country Director for Mexico and Colombia, as well as Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, helping to enable middle income countries to build shared prosperity. As Senior Manager of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, he also supervised the preparation of debt relief packages that yielded US$37 billion in debt relief for 24 of the world’s poorest countries.

Mr. van Trotsenburg assumes his role at a critical time for East Asia and the Pacific region, which remains resilient but faces challenges in a weak global economic environment. The region is also vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. In his new role, he will continue to engage with middle income countries to help them move up the income ladder, and expand support for Pacific Island countries.

As Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Mr. van Trotsenburg will manage a US$ 31.8 billion portfolio for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Anticipated lending for the 2013 financial year is US$ 5.8 billion.

Mr. van Trotsenburg is both Dutch and Austrian, and holds Masters and Doctorate degrees in Economics and a Masters degree in International Affairs. He takes over from former East Asia and Pacific Vice President, Pamela Cox, who has been appointed World Bank Senior Vice President for Change Management.

For more information, visit http://www.worldbank.org/eap

ENDS

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