World Bank country head makes farewell call on PM

The World Bank Country Director for Nepal and Bangladesh, Ellen Goldstein, held a farewell meeting with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday evening.

Goldstein is completing her tenurein South Asia and has recently been appointed as the World Bank’s Country Director for South East Europe.

Goldstein also called on Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun and senior Government officials including the Chief Secretary; Secretary, Ministry of Finance; Secretary, PMO; and the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, WB’s Nepal office said.

During these meetings Goldstein highlighted positive development results in Nepal despite the protracted political transition. During her tenure, the World Bank scaled up its support in areas with demonstrated results, such as community empowerment and irrigation. The Bank also supported innovative instruments for results-based financing of infrastructure and for addressing childhood nutrition through a multi-sectoral approach at local levels.

“Goldstein attributed the country’s development progress in large part to the resilience of local communities, a functioning civil service, and broad-based support for key development issues across political lines. In line with the Government’s desire to move towards a longer term framework for development and cooperation, the World Bank Group is preparing a Country Assistance Strategy for Nepal this year, through a highly participatory and consultative process,” a press statement issued by the WB said. Nepalnews.com