World Bank Group President to Visit Africa

WASHINGTON, January 24, 2008 每Robert B. Zoellick will begin this week his first
official visit to Africa as President of the World Bank Group. He will travel
to Mauritania, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. This visit follows a
successful replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA)
which will allow the Bank and its partners to expand and deepen their support
to Africa, building on last year＊s record $5.7 billion commitment to Africa by
IDA and another $1.6 billion by the International Finance Corporation (IFC),
the Bank Group＊s private sector arm.

During his visit to Ethiopia, Mr. Zoellick will participate in the 10th
Ordinary Assembly of the African Union (AU) as the first World Bank President
to speak at a Summit of African heads of state and governments. The AU and the
World Bank are increasingly working together on a number of issues including
regional integration, governance, post-conflict countries, and engaging the
African Diaspora in the development of the continent. Mr. Zoellick＊s presence
at the AU Summit will be an opportunity to further strengthen the relations
between the two institutions. Mr. Zoellick will also meet with African heads of
state and the heads of other international institutions in Addis Ababa to
discuss the Millennium Development Goals, agricultural development, and the
impact of increased food prices on the poor.

Before arriving in Ethiopia, Mr. Zoellick will visit Mauritania and Liberia. In
Mauritania, which stands as a bridge between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab
World, Mr. Zoellick will meet with President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi
and key government officials to discuss how the World Bank Group can support
Mauritania＊s transition to a middle income country. During his visit, Mr.
Zoellick will also have an exchange with parliamentarians and representatives
of civil society to learn more about the country＊s challenges. He will meet
with the private sector and discuss the IFC and Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA)＊s role in supporting Mauritania＊s growth agenda.

In Liberia, Mr. Zoellick＊s visit will focus on the development challenges
facing the country and its efforts to promote growth, overcome poverty, and
improve the Liberian people＊s living standards. Mr. Zoellick will talk to
beneficiaries of community projects, meet with Liberian President Ellen
Sirleaf-Johnson and participate in a roundtable with Finance Ministers from
Liberia, Cote d＊Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Togo to discuss the Bank＊s
support to post-conflict countries and the lessons learned from its work in Liberia. He will meet with donor representatives; and discuss the Bank Group＊s
contribution to private sector development in Liberia.

After attending the AU Summit in Addis, Mr. Zoellick will travel to Mozambique
where he will meet with President Armando Guebuza, as well as representatives
from government, the private sector, and civil society. He will visit Sofala
province and Maputo, and will have a chance to see the flood-affected areas of
the Zambezi and P迆ngue rivers. He will also visit the Mozal aluminum plant and
Temane gas distribution point for the city, both of which have been supported
by the IFC and MIGA.