Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies)-The U.S. candidate Jim Yong Kim (pictured) is the new president of the World Bank (WB). His appointment by the directors of the organization, reaffirms the U.S influence, excluding another candidate, the Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Until a few days ago there was also a Colombian candidate Jose Antonio Ocampo, who later withdrew from the race. Kim succeeds Robert Zoellick and will be in office for five years starting July 1st.
Kim, 52, of Korean origin,
but a naturalized in American citizen, is an expert doctor in the treatment of
AIDS and tuberculosis in the developing world. For Zoellick, Kim's experience,
who has "seen poverty and vulnerability" first hand, will be
invaluable to the WB that "wants to better serve developing nations."
The choice of Kim, a professional in development, is an attempt to counter heavy
criticism over they way the Bank always chooses people from the developed world
and increasingly the United
States.
In the WB, as well as the
International Monetary Fund - IMF, whose president is always a European - emerging
countries are an increasing presence and want to have more say and influence in
the choices made by the two bodies.
According to Grant Thornton International Ltd, in 2011 Brazil, Russia,
China and India accounted for 19% of global
wealth, and in 2016 their share will be 23%. The G7 countries, instead will
fall from 48% to 44%.
The attempts of the BRICS
(Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa)
to influence the World Bank and IMF have often been frustrated. As a result
they have decided to launch a development bank project of their own. This
project will compete against the WB.
In addition, countries such as China
or Brazil,
alone, offer loans and benefits to Latin American or African countries at
better conditions and with less bureaucracy. In 2010, China lent more to Latin
America than the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and
Export-Import Bank combined. Recently, the China Development Bank signed a loan
to Ghana
for a one billion U.S. dollars. Last year, the Bank loaned a total of 57
billion dollars.