Iraqi Dinar Discussion Board

[Marcelno]

First Visit to Iraq of Shamshad Akhtar, World Bank Regional Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Region
Press Release No:2010/232/MENA

Contacts:

In Washington: Najat Yamouri

[e-mail]

202-458-1340

In Beirut: Mona Ziade

[phone]

[e-mail]



Washington DC, January 19, 2010- The World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region, Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, visited Iraq on January 16th to 19th, 2010. The objective of this visit was to advance the strong partnership between Iraq and the World Bank Group.



The Vice President congratulated the Government for launching the Iraqi Poverty Reduction Strategy, on Iraq’s accession to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and extended the Bank’s support to the Iraqi Joint Anti-Corruption Council and its work on strengthening anti-corruption, accountability institutions and Anti Money Laundering. "Reducing poverty is the focus of development efforts worldwide, while improved governance is a key to the development process itself" suggested Ms. Akhtar.

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22445115~menuPK:34463~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html