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The Week in Germany: Current Affairs
November 9, 2007
New World Bank Office to Open in Berlin
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| Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and Robert B. Zoellick, Photo: Development
Ministry |
Anyone interested in initiating development cooperation in Germany should
make a note of a new address: the World Bank Berlin Office, Reichpietschufer
20, 10785 Berlin.
The Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie
Wieczorek-Zeul, and the President of the World Bank, Robert B. Zoellick,
officially opened this new center for development cooperation today, which
had been requested by the German government.
Proximity makes for better dialogue
"The new Berlin Office of the World Bank is an ambitious attempt
to bring the development work of the World Bank Group closer to the German
people," declared the Development Minister, who is also Germany's
Governor at the World Bank.
The geographical proximity of the office will improve the dialogue with
relevant actors from the realms of politics, the academic community, civil
society, industry and the media.
The World Bank's responsibilities for Germany have thus been transferred
from Paris to Berlin, close to the Potsdamer Platz.
Poverty reduction remains the priority
Wieczorek-Zeul underlined the fact that the World Bank must maintain the
focus of its work on poverty reduction, and on Africa. The Bank must,
she went on, fine-tune its instruments for use in countries that have
suffered armed conflicts.
"An absolutely crucial point," the Minister continued, is the
efforts of the World Bank with respect to global public goods. By way
of example, she cited its efforts to ensure an intact environment, an
operational trading system and climate protection.
Climate protection moves to the center stage
With respect to climate protection, the World Bank should not lose sight
of the rapidly emerging economies, alongside the poorest states of the
world, the Minister argued. These countries must be given support so that
they can put their development on a socially and ecologically sound footing.
"Countries like China and India are perfectly open to suggestions
of this sort", said Wiezcorek Zeul.
Germany has already supported important World Bank measures in the field
of climate protection. The World Bank action plan for the Clean Energy
for Development Framework and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility are
examples of Germany's commitment. (Regierungonline)
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