Washington (EFE).- The American of Indian origin Ajay Banga is the only aspirant to preside over the World Bank (WB) after the closing of the period of presentation of candidacies, the organism announced this Thursday.
“The Board received a nomination and wishes to announce that Mr. Ajay Banga, a US national, will be considered for the position,” the World Bank said in a brief statement.
The nomination period closed on Wednesday, March 29. Now, in accordance with established procedures, members of the Executive Board will conduct a formal interview with the candidate in Washington DC
On February 23, the nomination of the United States of the Indian-American executive Banga -currently vice president of the General Atlantic fund and who also served as executive president of Mastercard- was made public, replacing David Malpass.
According to US President Joe Biden, after his nomination, Banga “has a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing developing countries and on how the World Bank can carry out its agenda to reduce poverty and expand prosperity.” ”.
Addressing climate change will be vital at the World Bank
The current head of the WB, David Malpass, proposed by the former Republican president Donald Trump (2017-2021), informed the Executive Board of the organization on February 15 of his intention to leave office on June 30 “to pursue new challenges ”.
Malpass’s role was called into question after he repeatedly avoided answering in a panel discussion last September whether he recognized the scientific consensus that humans burning fossil fuels were “warming up the planet rapidly and dangerously.”
In a recent conversation with EFE, on the occasion of a tour he made to explain his proposals for the World Bank, Banga assured that climate change is a “clear, present and urgent” issue.
“Climate change and economic development are intertwined, there is no question. I see it as a clear, present and urgent issue. It’s not something we can’t pay attention to,” he stated.