This is contained in a statement issued by the World Bank in
Abuja on Friday.
“The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today
confirmed that, as announced on Feb. 22, the period for submitting nominations
for the position of the next President of the World Bank Group closed on
Wednesday at 6:00 pm ET.”
“The board received one nomination and would like to
announce that Ajay Banga, a U.S. national, will be considered for the position.
“In accordance with established procedures, the Board of
Executive Directors will conduct a formal interview with the candidate in
Washington D.C., and expect to conclude the Presidential selection in due
course,” the board said.
Banga was nominated by US President Joe Biden to lead the
World Bank in February, saying he is “well equipped” to lead the global
institution at “this critical moment in history.”
No other country submitted a candidate for the prestigious
position.
Banga, 63, was born in India and is a US citizen by
naturalisation. A former CEO of Mastercard Inc., Banga is now General
Atlantic’s Vice Chairman.
If confirmed, Banga will be the first Indian-American to
lead either the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank.
Banga is expected to succeed David Malpass, who will step
down in June, nearly a year before his term is set to expire.
Malpass was chastised for both the bank’s commitment to
climate action and his personal views on the subject.
NAN