Topic:
International Launch of the World Bank’s Global Development Finance 2006 Report

Speakers:
Mr Mansoor Dailami
Head, Development Finance Group
Development Economic Vice Presidency
The World Bank
Washington DC
USA

Mr Hans Timmer
Head, Global Economics Trends Group
The World Bank
Washington DC
USA

Date: Friday, 2 June 2006

Time: 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm

Venue: Seminar Room II, ISEAS

Speaker

Mansoor Dailami is the lead author of the Global Development Finance Report (2006). In the World Bank, he holds the position of Head of the Development Finance Group, Development Economic Vice Presidency. Since joining the Bank in 1986, he has served in team leader capacity at the World Bank Institute (WBI) and in the South Asia region, where he also headed the Economic Unit of the Banks India Country Office. Before joining the Bank, he worked at the United Nations Secretariat in New York, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University. Mr Dailami has degrees from the London School of Economics and Harvard University.

Hans Timmer is the Head of the Global Economics Trends Group of the World Bank. He is responsible for international economic analyses and forecasts, including short- and medium-term prospects for developing countries, as well as long-term international scenarios that describe the progress of developing countries towards the Millennium Development Goals. He holds a Masters degree in econometrics from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and has also studied at the University of Lodz in Poland.

Abstract

In 2005, global private capital flows, bonds, loans and portfolio and foreign direct investment to developing and transition countries hit a record high of US$483 billion, reinforcing a trend underway since 2002. This sharp rise came despite uncertainty about high oil prices, rising global interest rates and growing global payments imbalances. A large proportion of these flows went to middle income countries that have taken advantage of the surge to improve their external debt profiles and build foreign exchange reserves.

Why is this happening, and what are the reasons underpinning these trends? What can governments learn from these trends, and how can potential investors take advantage of opportunities arising from them? The GDF Report will investigate these questions, and will highlight specific prescriptions to the international policy and investor communities. It will also touch on the favourable regulatory and financial climates that encourage such capital surges, particularly in the context of uncertain global economic conditions in the near future.

You are cordially invited to the Seminar.

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