World Bank Managing Director Launches Insecticide-Treated Bed Net ...

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“It is not the donors who are going to develop theDRC,” she told civil society. “They have undoubtedlymobilized funds but the DRC has the full potential to develop itsresources.”
In most of her talks, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala often reiterated theDRC’s tremendous potential for transforming wealth for thewell-being of the population by making a number of rapid reforms.She said Africans should play an increasingly important role in thedevelopment of their own countries by supporting good governancewhere corruption is not tolerated.
“I emphasize this point because it is the only way tomobilize the funds needed to accelerate growth,” she said.
Identify sources of growth
The government should identify sources of growth and develop agrowth strategy around sectors, according to Ms. Okonjo-Iweala.DRC’s promising short-term sources of growth include mining,agriculture, and energy. Citing the example of the mining sector ,Ms. Okonjo-Iweala indicated that the country could increase itsresources fivefold, from US$20 million to US$100 million, if properreforms are implemented. Her message: development is a sharedresponsibility. To obtain results that will change people’slives, all parties must get involved.
Addressing the issue of the Chinese contracts, Ms. Okonjo-Iwealamade a point of explaining that the World Bank welcomes theresources provided by the Chinese government. It is important, shesaid, to ensure that the provisions of any contracts between DRCand China are transparent, as is the case with traditionalfinancing. It is also important to ensure that the financialconditions governing these contracts do not compromise theattainment of the completion point of the Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) initiative, she said, that could alleviate thedebt burden, which is the equivalent of the current GDP .
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala’s visit, coming several weeks after that ofWorld Bank Vice President Jeffrey Gutman, attests to the WorldBank’s desire to give renewed impetus to its interventions inthe DRC.
“The DRC,” Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said, “is animportant country that must regain its rightful place on thecontinent.”