World Bank President David Malpass visits Finland

World Bank Group President David Malpass will attend the meeting of Nordic and Baltic ministers in Vantaa on 1 June.

Matters on the agenda of the meeting will include climate change, Covid-19 measures and vaccine solidarity.

President Malpass will arrive in Finland on Monday 31 May. On the same day, he will have a meeting with President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö.

On Tuesday 1 June, Malpass will attend the meeting of ministers of the World Bank Group’s Nordic–Baltic Constituency (NBC), who are the Nordic and Baltic Governors in the World Bank’s Board of Governors.

In the Vantaa meeting, Finland will be represented by Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.

Ministers or their deputies representing the other countries of the NBC will attend the meeting via remote connection.

“I welcome the World Bank’s new Climate Change Action Plan. It is important that the World Bank help its member countries in maximising the impact of climate finance. This work also supports the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, participated by over 60 countries, which I am co-chairing with the Minister of Finance of Indonesia,” says Minister Saarikko.

Debt sustainability

Other topics on the agenda of the ministerial meeting include education, digitalisation, debt sustainability, and human rights and non-discrimination.

“In order to get back on track to sustainable development after the Covid-19 crisis, it is of vital importance that we increase funding directed to human development, health and high-quality education, especially in the poorest and most fragile countries.  By contributing to matters that strengthen health and education systems, we promote equality, non-discrimination, stability and economic growth,” says Minister Skinnari.